2016 Barracuda Near Attack, looking for causes

[Charlie Vergos]

Hi yall. A few months ago I had a Barracuda encounter and was hoping you guys could help explain the barracuda's behavior and maybe give some advice on how to better deal with the situation next time:

So last September, I was snorkeling off the beach on Great Exuma, Bahamas and, not seeing much close to shore, swam out a ways. The water was very warm and clear and there was a reef off in the distance I was headed toward.

As I approached it, it seemed the reef was much farther out than it appeared and, about 400 feet from shore, though the water depth was only about 6-8 feet. I decided to give up and turn back.

Just as I did, I saw it. I'd say about 5.5 feet long, full adult. About 10 feet away from me. It just appeared, I hadn't seen where it came from.

I've dove around plenty of barracuda and usually feel safe, but those had always been in the context of a coral reef, with plenty of barracuda's natural prey about. This felt different, as there were no other fish in the area, just me and the barracuda, staring at me, highly aware of my presence.

I probably made the wrong move here, but I immediately began to swim back to shore as fast as I could, kicking my fins with my back to shore to face the barracuda. I think the distance from shore made me panic a bit. The barracuda began to follow me at the same speed, about 3-4 feet away, sometimes closer. We looked at each other the whole time.

Because of the panic, it's hard to say how long I swam for, but it had to have been at least 5 minutes, probably less than 10 minutes, as fast as I could kick. At one point, I tried to make myself very big and kicked at it's face hoping to scare it, which probably also wasn't smart. It just kept following. I was getting to the point of exhaustion and potentially throwing up. I was starting to inhale water from my heavy breathing. The barracuda never struck but it also kept the same exact speed as me. If I sped up, it'd speed up too.

Finally, still a long ways from shore (the water was very choppy too), I realized the fins I was wearing were a dull silver and thought maybe the barracuda was attracted to them. So I took one off and threw it at the barracuda and it went after that instead, at which point, I was able to yell for help and two men on shore grabbed a kayak and paddled out to take me away. I threw my other fin at it for good measure.

So yeah, my question is, was I actually in any danger? Or was the barracuda just being curious? Was it the fins, or did me throwing the fin at it just distract it? What would yall do in this situation?

Thanks

 

[Bubblesong]

So what color are your new fins?
As you can see in my avatar, I have white fins, easy for my family of divers to see. After reading your story, (I think you were exactly right to toss your silver fins away) I am thinking, what fins look like a poisonous fish?

 

[Charlie Vergos]

I was thinking darker blue/black fins are the way to go. The least attention grabbing, though you could be on to something.

 

[wgw04024]

I didn't realize they got that big until a month ago in Bonaire, my son and I came up over the reef from depth, and right in front of us was this at least 5' long barracuda. It was huge! This one didn't harass us though.

 

[dmaziuk]

So what color are your new fins?
As you can see in my avatar, I have white fins, easy for my family of divers to see. After reading your story, (I think you were exactly right to toss your silver fins away) I am thinking, what fins look like a poisonous fish?

Will dressing like a ZEBRA save you from a shark? | Daily Mail Online

 

[cneal]

I have always been told baracuda will follow to steal whatever you kill. They will maintain the same distance no matter the speed or direction you take. Veer towards them and they will back off to maintain the same distance. My experience matches this description.

One thing I am sure of, you will never be able to outswim one. The only sure way I have found to make one swim away is to try and get a good photo.

 

[USdiver1]

You met a predator in its environment. You were probably seen as both a curiosity and a threat. That the 'cuda escorted you while you swam off may have been territorial.

I have had relatively large 'cudas show up when I was spearfishing, only becoming aggressive when I had a speared fish and was bringing it in. You can confront them directly by swimming right into their space. It may be risky, but I was never bitten plus I never lost a fish when I protected my own territory in their presence.

Not only can you never out swim a 'cuda, people can't out swim anything beyond a seahorse. It's not worth even trying'.

 

[northernone]

Often they'll escort or follow me on dives, never a near attack. Perceiving them as a threat may or may not be interpreting their intent accurately.

 

[drrich2]

Finally, still a long ways from shore (the water was very choppy too), I realized the fins I was wearing were a dull silver and thought maybe the barracuda was attracted to them.

I doubt there's any provable answer to the speculation I'm about to embark on. You have been warned.

It's not unusual for smaller fish to follow a larger fish. Remoras are perhaps the most famous example; cobia may follow bull sharks, a bar jack may follow a stingray... I've read reports of spear fishermen using a little chum to draw in bull sharks, so they can shoot the cobia that tag along with them.

With a large barracuda, it's kinda like you've got this big, powerful fish with arrow-like speed that can't be dodged or avoided, an opportunistic predator of smaller fish and a mouth full of switchblades, and it's using a 'fish brain' to make sense of what it sees and decide what to do.

Aaaaand it's looking at you...

If you're like many divers, and wearing a full wetsuit, you may present a mostly darkly colored large mass, and tailing right behind at the ends of your legs are these two silvery colored things about the size of a pair of large, yellow snapper.

I once saw a video where a barracuda hit a yellow snapper and sliced it in two right down the center like it'd been guillotined, ate half, then turned back & ate the other half.

So, I wonder what the fish thought it was looking at following behind when it saw your fins?

Richard.

 

[Steve_C]

I did not see where you were attacked by a barracuda. Just shadowed by a barracuda. Was diving once in 50 ft of water. Good viz, buddy maybe 20 ft away. We were swimming along the bottom looking for stuff. I looked over an laughted. A very large barracuda was hanging about 6 inches above is back. Front of cuda about even with his ear. Buddy looked at me then glanced back without moving his head. He smiled and we continued on. He and cuda swam like that for probably 5 minutes. Cuda just waiting to see if buddy would scare up any lunch. (I have seen bass do that in a quarry also).