Footage of a man riding a whale shark off a paradise island in Malaysia has outraged local diving instructors.

Mobile phone footage shows how the man pats the whale shark with his hands and even rides it between his legs in the waters off the tiny cay of Pulau Sibuan, which lies in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.

The man seen in the video – filmed on 25th November – is believed to be a local tourist guide.

The seconds-long clip angered local diving instructors after it did the rounds online.

Suzimin Idris – president of the Semporna Professional Divers Association – said in a statement on 26th November: “SPDA has issued reminders for each dive centre to only hire qualified tourist guides.

“Once again, the SPDA urges tourism players in Semporna to give the proper training and awareness to their staff.”

Idris requested that authorities in Sabah State take action over the incident.

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest known extant fish species, with the largest confirmed specimen measuring 61.7 feet long.

They are docile and sometimes allow swimmers to ride them.

Conservationists, however, advise against the practice, as the species is classified as ‘endangered’ – the second most severe conservation status for wild populations after ‘critically endangered’ – on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.