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