Barracuda Encounter - Will I be Dinner?

[Dan]

I've been diving for 12 years, seeing lots of barracuda. They usually leave me alone.

I have video some of them being cleaned by wrasse in 2' away from my camera. I figure if it attacks me, I use my camera as a shield.

I once inside thousands of schooling barracuda in Bigfish country (the Channel) in Nabucco, Maratua atoll, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. They just swam around me, like you see, below. So, should I consider myself lucky?

 

[Schwob]

I've been diving for 12 years, seeing lots of barracuda. They usually leave me alone.

I have video some of them being cleaned by wrasse in 2' away from my camera. I figure if it attacks me, I use my camera as a shield.

I once inside thousands of schooling barracuda in Bigfish country (the Channel) in Nabucco, Maratua atoll, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. They just swam around me, like you see, below. So, should I consider myself lucky?

Hi "Lucky Dan".
Nice video. Ripping current. Big school.
Similar size as the smaller school (maybe 2 to 300) I swam with for a while in the Red Sea. Similar size (smaller size) fish. I don't know about you, but I will be thinking a little differently when around a big Cuda next time...

BTW: Seing the few seconds around 0.33' hurts a bit!

 

[flyboy08]

Some current Dan_t.....thanks for posting.

 

[Dan]

Some current Dan_t.....thanks for posting.

It sure was. That's why it's sometime called the channel.

We time the dive during the high tide. When the tide receding, the current will bring us to the shallow where the current goes down & we can finish the dive & 3 minute safety stop in the shallow 15' deep sandy bottom. So, no worry about getting blown away by the ripping current if you miss the ledge where you are supposed to hook yourself on. Once you hooked yourself onto the rock, let go the hook & enjoy the show. There are sharks, napoleon wrasse & other pelagic there in the ripping current.

 

[Dan]

Hi "Lucky Dan".
Nice video. Ripping current. Big school.
Similar size as the smaller school (maybe 2 to 300) I swam with for a while in the Red Sea. Similar size (smaller size) fish. I don't know about you, but I will be thinking a little differently when around a big Cuda next time...

BTW: Seing the few seconds around 0.33' hurts a bit!

Ya, those chevron barracuda with black tail are usually small & come in big school.

The big ones, great barracuda with yellow tail, are usually come in a fewer number, but I have never been attacked when I come closer to them. But I'm always ready to defend myself with my steel pointer to poke them away or whack them with my camera.

 

[Scubagolf]

Thanks

I wouldn't return to that situation, but many here also know I hope never to encounter a shark of any kind. Most will say you're not on the menu, so enjoy them. I'm not most.

Friendly critters in French Polynesia.

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm with TM. Sheesh. Cold diving on the Great Lakes with nothing that can eat me holds even more appeal now!

I've only dived a lake twice, otherwise salt water. Both times I thought "don't have to think about anything big that may approach". I know there's big bad stuff in some fresh water (gators, snakes, etc.) in the tropics, but you've gotta be mad to dive there.

 

[Flutter]

@Dan_T , thanks for the Wow! video. Amazing.
Our lds has gone on a number of trips to the "Blue Corner" & elsewhere, returning with quite the videos of schools of fish, shark, etc passing by off the edge. Usually big $$$ attached, so we haven't joined them yet. (Shore diving is cheaper - dives/$$). In your video, I would be the one most hunkered down, close to the reef as critters pass on by.

Enjoyed a great last day of diving. Dived a site that runs to the reef wall (Charlie's Reef) & popped over the edge where it drops down beyond sight. Awesome! Several friendly large nassau groupers to the wall & not a barracuda in sight.

Last dive was in a lovely "aquarium" like reef (Green House) with tons of reef life, swim throughs, close canyon-like reef walls, ledges, small caves . . . Lovely. Even a couple of barracuda, that were simply curious & gave us a passing glance & swam off, a couple of eagle rays, & southern rays, a large green moray, etc.

Thanks, all, for your comments. It's nice to having an experienced sounding board to bounce off a question when something unusual pops up. Happy Bubbles! Till next time.

 

[Steve_C]

Notice in the video Cuzza posted that the photographer was following the cuda for some time. This was a case where the cuda was trying to swim away and the diver kept following it. So it was not an unwarranted rush.

 

[Steve_C]

We see lots of sand tigers in NC. Was reeling in a line close to the bottom and not really looking ahead since I knew the wreck was a ways away when I ran into the side of an 8 footer which had moved in and was resting on my line. Not sure who was more startled but probably me.