| Marine life is extremely different from that of | | | | waters at night and not coming out too much |
| terrestrial life. The underwater experience is like | | | | during the day. They typically stay in their holes |
| no other. Coral reefs have diversity that is only | | | | during the day. Divers that get bitten are usually |
| comparable to the diversity found in the | | | | those that pry off an oyster or abalone, and then |
| rainforest. | | | | reach back into the hole to get it. The eel |
| Coral reefs house animals of every shape, size, | | | | mistakes the diver's hand for food and then bites |
| and color. The Coral reef has been around for an | | | | it. |
| enormous number of years. Some of the reefs | | | | Electric rays may be encountered on a dive also. |
| have been forming for the past 25 million years. | | | | They are animals that have the ability to shock |
| Diving to see this amazing environment is | | | | you. This shock is something that a diver |
| extraordinary because of all the diversity that you | | | | definitely wants to avoid. It's not going to kill the |
| can see in one area. | | | | diver; it's just going to be very painful. It's best to |
| Some of the animals you may encounter on a | | | | avoid the electric eel all together. |
| dive will be beautiful, but dangerous. It is a good | | | | Jellyfish are another animal to avoid. Jellyfish are |
| idea to know what sea life to watch out for. | | | | free-floating in the open sea. They drift wherever |
| Don't be scared just be educated about what kind | | | | the water takes them, and can often come in |
| of sea life there is and the potential danger that | | | | contact with divers. Depends on the species, the |
| may arise from it. | | | | sting can be mild to severe. Two forms of |
| Probably, the most widely known animal a diver | | | | jellyfish should be avoided at all costs. Those are |
| may encounter is the shark. The majority of | | | | the Portuguese-Man-of-War and the sea wasp. |
| species of shark are harmless, even though many | | | | The Portuguese-Man-of-War's sting can put a |
| people have a great fear of them. A diver that | | | | diver in the hospital for a while, and the sea wasp |
| comes face to face with a shark does not have | | | | can kill a diver in less than either minutes. No |
| a great chance of being bitten. The chance of | | | | jellyfish sting is pleasant, but these two are by far |
| being bitten by a shark is actually very slight. | | | | the most dangerous. |
| Sharks are unpredictable creatures even though | | | | Other animals in the sea that can be potentially |
| they don't typically attack humans. When a | | | | dangerous are the sea urchins, mollusks, sea lions, |
| person is attacked, it is usually at dusk when the | | | | and others. Diving in the sea can be an experience |
| visibility is poor. The shark cannot see very well | | | | like no other, but precautions need to be taken in |
| and thinks the diver is a fish or food. | | | | it like anywhere else. Divers should learn about |
| Eels are another animal a diver may encounter | | | | their surroundings before entering the sea and be |
| underwater. The moray eel is the most common | | | | aware of potential dangers. The only way to |
| eel encountered in temperate waters by divers. | | | | know what to do when encountering a potentially |
| Several species of this eel can be up to ten feet | | | | dangerous animal is to educate yourself before |
| long. Eels are nocturnal animals roaming the | | | | the situation occurs. |