Moray Eel really wanted my Lion fish
 

I was swimming along, about 6-8ft off the bottom when I felt my fin touch something. I tipped my head down to look towards my feet and came nose to nose with a Moray Eel. That was a bit of a shocker.........I think I might have peed a little bit:scared0015:. The screaming scared it away for a moment, but it came right back, it was very interested in my Lion fish tube. That's good and bad; bad because I want to keep my Lion fish for myself. Good because it means the Eels are starting to learn that they can eat Lion fish. Up until recently, these invasive fish here have had no predators other than people, they will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, and they are prolific breeders. People will never be able to control them, but many people kill them and leave them. The eels have started eating the ones people leave and are learning to kill the lions themselves now. That's a good thing. Anyway, this Eel chased me down 4 times, I was not interested in hurting it, but i did bop it on the nose with my lion tube, and pushed it away with my spear. This spear is quite dull from smashing rocks, so there was no real danger of making holes in the eel.

https://youtu.be/6WaNyIx4aSM

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https://i.imgur.com/ABd2hgq.png

https://i.imgur.com/ePr5M3j.png

https://i.imgur.com/bZsfZ7I.png

https://i.imgur.com/siYqm2O.png

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RD

Hmmmm lion fish and eels....snorkling along reefs in and amongst the coral can bring out some fish out of no where....it's ok to elevate your heart.....and pee.:)

Wow! cool stuff!

No doubt, very cool indeed!

Did the Moray see you spear the Lion fish and put it into the container I guess?

Either way, he/she was very intent on making it lunch. Very persistent.

Fantastic footage. All you have put up had been wonderful to watch.

Awesome pictures!
You make me want to give it all up, head for warm, clear waters.
One day . . . One day
:shark:

I don't know if he saw me put one in the tube, or if he can smell them in there (blood). The tube has small holes in the top/bottom that allow water in when I dive and let the water out when I hand it up to the boat.
He was pretty intent on the bottom of the tube, so I'm thinking he smelled them.

RD

This is very cool! Nice job on the handling of the Moray. You have some talent there. Can't say many divers would be as skilled.

I don't think the Moray saw the lion fish go in...
Moray's have a great sense of smell and no doubt, like RD put it, they are getting to know the smell of a Lion fish. That is great news indeed. In the video, it does appear the Moray can smell the Lion fish as it keeps bumping the tube.

I love anything to do with the Ocean and especially what's in it.

That's a VERY cool video, thanks for posting it.

So awesome, thank for sharing all this stuff.

That moray didn't seem real calm and sedate like some of the video's lol.

What an amazing animal. Definately hungry, but still not overly vicious.

I was waiting for a strike, those teeth are no joke!