How do I get over my fear of eels?

[Scuba_Signer]

When I got to see eels for the first time, I was startled too. ...Keep breathing... Then I just hovered where I was so I can get a good look at it. I realized, its not hissing at me, its just breathing.

I have a Doberman and I know that there are just some things out there that spook people just by the look of them, but they're so sweet!

If nothing else, scream into your reg!

Steve

 

[Arnaud]

Eels are shy and nearsighted. Don't put your hand in their hole and you'll have a great experience.

 

[H2Andy]

Is this a normal fear?

well, yes... fear is a survival mechanism (doesn't it ultimately translate to "better safe than sorry"?)

being afraid of a large animal in an unfamiliar environment is quite a normal reaction, i would say, but i'm not a psychologist.

but i think fear of these animals can be overcome with knowledge and experience. just keep in mind that eels are not dangerous unless you molest them in some way (usually by sticking your hand close to their mouths).

but to answer your question, i think even now i get a little "something"
inside me when i get close to an eel, it's just that i know they are ok.

 

[gemdiver]

Eels are shy and nearsighted. Don't put your hand in their hole and you'll have a great experience.

I am one of those people that will not touch ANYTHING underwater. I also try not to get too close to anything yet because I haven't perfected my bouyancy.

I think this is going to take some time for me to get over. Maybe if I start looking at pictures and trying to learn about the different types then I won't be so scared. Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[chickdiver]

They really are very cool creatures. I am a salt water aquarist, and for a while I had a Snowflake Eel (Indo-Pacific species) in my tank. He was about 18 inches long. My mother, who is a non- diver, commented when I told her about him that she didn't like those "snaky looking things." After my first out of town trip, when Mom fed the fish for me, she loved the eel because he had "personality." After a couple of "fish sitting" sessions, she would even feed him (he was hand fed, and very gentle). You might try checking with salt water aquarium supply stores and just go look at them up close just to get accustomed to the way they move and behave.

 

[slowhands]

The only time I've seen an eel was while snorkeling in Cayman. It came out of it's hole to get some food that the snorkel guy had for him and I thought that was the scariest thing ever. If I could have jumped out of the water right then, I would have. I have refused to do the Stingray City dive because I've heard about the friendly eel there.

I may be ok if they just stay in their hole and I can swim away but I'd probably drop my reg if it swam out to greet me.

Is this a normal fear?

It does not sound like a normal fear, more like a phobia. I can't imagine why you would drop your reg for any reason, that is far more dangerous than any eel. A lot of people have eel phobias because of misinformation, typically from watching movies or TV shows like the old Sea Hunt series, in which eels were often featured as menacing. In fact, they are very timid unless threatened. Like most aquatic life, they will only act defensively against you, and only then if you invade their territory or interrupt mating, but I realize logic is not involved in phobias.

It may take time, exposure to a lot of eels, or you may just avoid them as you are now. Nothing wrong with that, except you will miss out on a lot of dives. But if you ever really think you would drop your regulator if you saw an eel nearby, you would be a danger to yourself. In that case, either get professional counseling for the phobia, or quit diving.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Yeah, one of my friends got bit on the wrist by a monster green moray a few years ago down in FL...

Probably doesnt help you much in this thread, though...

If it helps any, he was spearfishing, and had a dead fish in his hand. Bonehead move...

 

[RebreatherBoy]

These irrational fears cannot be abated with reason and logic because they are not based in such.

The typical therapy is extremely slow gradual exposure to the experience.

Besides, as long as you do not hear underwater the sounds of base cellos accompanied by french horns playing the them to jaws, you will be fine.