Scuba vs Alligators

[iztok]

"WikiAnswers - Is a reptile an animal?
Alligators and Crocodiles question: Is a reptile an animal? a reptile is an animal."

Ha!! You be right...thanks for the clarification...I should have done more homework.

Did you even have to doubt? Seriously? Pretty much organisms of this size are either plants or animals. If they move they are animals

 

[goonsquad]

In the wild, gators may be afraid of boats, but there is very little "wild" left where gators and divers may converge. Every damn guide boat I've been on in LA or FL fed gators and they came right up to them with their engines running.
Gators/crocs are about the only animal I really have a cautious fear of being around. Not sure if its justified but I just can't bring myself to accept that they won't be quite happy to bite my leg and take me down for a roll or two.

 

[Lucy's Diver]

Its not the gators I'd be worried about, its the snapping turtles. Big ones could probably remove a hand and in a dark water search, especially for a weapon, you'll be sticking your hand into all kinds of holes that could be their home.

 

[Wildbill]

Here in FL if there is a body of water of any significant size there will most likely have a gator in it or nearby. We post a safety person on shore with a .223 rifle and he will stand watch (his only job) At night we will use spot lights to look for there eyes. Our team has also been told by our local paid trappers that a gator can't attack while submerged, only on top of water. So, should we encounter one, head for the bottom. This has never been proved by our team and I don't want to be the one to test this theory

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I have learned a bit about gator behavior while diving the Cooper River in Charleston SC. I have dove it about 100 times. Of course there is the exception to everything I am posting below.

One of the first things I learned about gators is that they do not spend much time in the center/bottom of the rivers. There is nothing there for them. They prefer to hang around the edge of the river.

Gators are ambush predators. As a general rule they lay in wait.

Gators are scared of boats and it is hard to get near them.

Gators are most active in the morning sun and at twilight

Gators like tall grass or growth that hides them.

Gators stay in their territory which appears to be about a 50 foot semi circle. I am sure it varies.

If you go into a gators territory, he is likely to come investigate.

Gators like sunning in the afternoon and laying under the edge of the water

If you can, stay away from the edge of a river, especially where it supports tall grass.

Nice!

And as lee said "they're likely to come and investigate.. they'll come to u no matter how careful you are"

Yes they are. I have dived the the Cooper River my share, as well as some of the Georgia swamps. They will come over and check out an SMB popping up damn near every time. They don't seem to like my bubbles though, and are usually swimming away by the time I break surface.

 

[BladesRobinson]

... Our team has also been told by our local paid trappers that a gator can't attack while submerged, only on top of water.

Bill ... the golf ball diver I referenced in my earlier post was bitten underwater. I will try to locate the article and post it.

Some other interesting articles on the subject...
Golf Ball Diver Battles Gator At Tampa Palms Course

http://www.************.com/threads/1469-Golf-Ball-Diver-Attacked-by-Gator

 

[Splitlip]

Try this.

60 FSW near the Breakers Reef off Palm Beach.

An American Alligator in Salt Water on Vimeo

 

[Wildbill]

Bill ... the golf ball diver I referenced in my earlier post was bitten underwater. I will try to locate the article and post it.

Some other interesting articles on the subject...
Golf Ball Diver Battles Gator At Tampa Palms Course

http://www.************.com/threads/1469-Golf-Ball-Diver-Attacked-by-Gator

Thanks Blade........ I have had nothing to confirm the trapper's statement. Like I stated, I hope I'm not the one to prove or dis-prove it.

 

[Desert_Pirate]

I just got back from diving the cooper river, great fun! We saw plenty of alligators for this Idaho boy, and dove within 30-50 feet of them. My girl friend asked the captain of the boat what is the alligator conditions on the cooper river? his reply was "Plentyful" a diver on our boat told me one followed my bubbles across the surface to about mid river before swimming off. i was told to just stay toward the bottom and surface in the middle of the river near the boat, they have little reason for being there. found some great shark teeth though, and I would dive with them again to get in a little more search time

 

[Wildbill]

Pirate's comments sort of goes along with my mine, in that he was advised to stay near the bottom. It leads me to believe that the golf ball collector was somewhere other than there. Like surfacing or near shore. I'd like to read that article..... I'll search for it and see.

Thanks Pirate,