articles search
The Biters Below
09/10/2008 - By Staff Writer
A leopard Moray Eel, usually found in rock caves.
Ever wonder what lurks below? Our Staff Writer's synopsis of the teeth-baring creature that live in the sea.
Just as in wild places above the water line, the wild below contains animals that will defend themselves and their territory by biting. These animals, and particularly sharks, are most feared by inexperienced divers. Luckily, their reputation is wildly out of proportion to the actual threat they represent, especially if you take a few simple precautionary measures. Understanding the behavior of these animals and modifying your own will go far towards minimizing any potential danger.
Octopus and Squid: Octopus and squid are both cephalopods. Under ordinary circumstances, these animals are not dangerous. An octopus, however, can and does bite when cornered or mishandled. Octopuses have parrot-like beaks and venomous saliva. The most dangerous of these is the Blue Ringed Octopus, also notable for being smallest of all the octopuses. Mere inches long, they are also highly toxic. These yellow brown octopuses with blue ringed markings on their tentacles are often found in tidepools. Their toxic saliva can cause death within minutes. All the other species of octopus have a far milder venom that can result in inflammation and swelling, or sometimes numbness. Squid are a little more aggressive than octopuses, but not venomous. In general, both squid and octopuses will leave you alone if you leave them alone.
Eels: With sharp teeth and wide open mouths, eels look as if they are ready to bite at any moment. In fact, eels normally have open mouths in order to pump water over their gills so they can breathe. Eel handling is actually an advertised feature of some dive sites. You can find eels hanging around such sites, looking for a handout. They may become aggressive if there is competition from other fish for food. Occasionally, they may confuse divers’ fingers or other appendages with food. This is reason #10,005 never to scuba dive naked.
Barracuda: Barracudas are found in subtropical and tropical waters throughout the world. You will find them traveling alone (larger ones, anyway) and in schools. With long sharp teeth in both jaws and a body span up to 6 feet long, barracudas look like a daunting enemy. Under normal circumstances, however, barracudas do not attack divers. These animals are attracted to bright colors and reflective jewelry--so leave yours on the boat.
Sharks: Of over 350 different species of sharks, only a few are dangerous to divers. Statistically, shark attacks are extremely rare. You are 3,000 times more likely to be killed in a car crash on the way to your dive than to be attacked by a shark. (Feel safer now?) Sharks can be aggressive, under certain circumstances, and some do attack without warning. The damage that a shark does in an attack can vary tremendously. It depends on the type of attack, species of shark, and many other factors. Most commonly, a shark attack consists of a single bite (slashing wound) for the diver. Profuse bleeding, shock, and loss of blood are the most immediate dangers. 90% of all shark attacks happened at or near the surface. Sharks to watch out for include the Bull shark, the Oceanic White Tip, the Tiger Shark, and the Great White. When diving in shark-infested waters, be sure to discuss safety procedures and regulations with your local guide.
