Advice on the Titan Triggerfish....

[Sea Elephant]

Calling all divers with experience of this tropical denizen.....

I'm an inexperienced diver heading for Phi Phi (Thailand) in early April. I gather that the Titan Triggerfish can be a bit of a pest, particularly when guarding its nest or lair or whatever.

How do I avoid being savaged by these monsters? Any tips would be gratefully received!

Kindest regards


Sea Elephant

 

[Doc]

Grenades.

 

[RockPile]

I have no experience with them. But any time I hear "triggerfish" I think of the chapter discussing them in Fontova's Helldiver's Rodeo and pray I never have the pleasure of being acquainted.

BTW, Fontova didn't have any real advice either, aside from pinching up your lips, covering your ears, and hauling butt.

JB

 

[vondo]

I have no experience with them. But any time I hear "triggerfish" I think of the chapter discussing them in Fontova's Helldiver's Rodeo and pray I never have the pleasure of being acquainted.

BTW, Fontova didn't have any real advice either, aside from pinching up your lips, covering your ears, and hauling butt.

JB

I was just there, saw lots of titans, and had no problems. In fact, the DMs there told me that they were docile around Phi Phi rather than aggressive as in other places.

I never got eye-to-eye with them, but saw plenty from 5m away.

 

[RockPile]

Yeah, I think spear fishermen are most at risk of catching the wrath, carrying their catch and all.

JB

 

[Sea Elephant]

Grenades? What a splendid idea...but perhaps a very loud fart would also suffice? If I saw one of the buggers coming at me I'm sure I could let one go!!!!

 

[Sea Elephant]

Thank you folks, I'm pleased to hear that the Phi Phi Triggers are docile. I think I'll be guided by the DMs and keep my distance!

 

[tterry1]

I'm told their territory is a cylinder that extends vertically at least to the surface . . . and possibly to the upper reaches of the atmosphere. One of them chased my wife for quite a distance when she swam about 20 feet over a nest. She did not believe me when I explained that my laughter was a diversionary tactic to draw the triggerfish away from her.

As a crew member aboard a Palau liveaboard once told me: "If Titan triggerfish were as large as sharks, I wouldn't get in the water."

 

[wedivebc]

When I was in Koh Tao there was a notorius trigger named Trevor. My DM put himself in harms way so I could see him attack (at least that was his story when I bought him a beer later). The DM used his fins to attract the fish and swam away on his back facing the attacking fish. It lunged at his fins several times then went back to stacking bits of coral. There is a cone of protection that they will defend when nesting. If attacked swim horizontally not vertically because he will follow all the way to the surface.
I actually think they are beautiful fish and saw plenty that didn't seem agressive.
Have fun, don't worry.

 

[MoonWrasse]

I'm told their territory is a cylinder that extends vertically at least to the surface . . . and possibly to the upper reaches of the atmosphere. One of them chased my wife for quite a distance when she swam about 20 feet over a nest. She did not believe me when I explained that my laughter was a diversionary tactic to draw the triggerfish away from her.

As a crew member aboard a Palau liveaboard once told me: "If Titan triggerfish were as large as sharks, I wouldn't get in the water."

Conical, not cylinderical, and yes you avoid them by swimming around them and not over them.