Has anyone ever heard of someone being bit by a Moray Eel?

SoFloReefer

SoFloReefer

New member
I've seen some large ones while diving and snorkeling. On one dive I saw a yellow one that looked between 8-10 feet in 70 feet of water. Whenever I see them, they always have their mouth open and look ready to attack. I think they are really cool, and I doubt they are aggressive towards people, but I like to look under ledges and I was wondering if I happened to look under the wrong ledge with a large eel, if it would swim away, or bite my face.
 
The are territorial but more curious than anything. They breathe threw their mouth which is why they always have them open or so I have been told. I have heard stories of people getting bit by them. They have very sharp teeth as well. When I go lobstering I am always carefull where I stick my hands for fear of them.
 
They will bite you if you give them a chance. Be careful when lobstering and spearing. Don't attempt to feed them either, you're just asking for trouble.
 
I have been bit. It's sort of a funny story. I was diving in Mozambique, and we came upon a pair of Tesselate Morays. They were gigantic. The current was pretty strong, so I grabbled an algae covered patch of rock to stabilize before taking a pic:

5887932040_d77e65d5c2_z.jpg


Low and behold, I stuck my hand right next to the hole of a blackcheek moray(Gymnothorax breedeni). He bit my hand pretty hard to let me know of my mistake. Scared the crap out of me. Took a pic of him as well:

5887931428_1eb660b1d8_z.jpg
 
I used an Olympus C-5060 in an Olympus case. The cuts were very clean, thanks to their razor sharp teeth. So it didn't hurt bad and it healed very quickly.
 
They will bite if they feel threatened or confuse you (or one of your body parts) for food. Also, they have terrible eyesight, so if you're feeding them you might get bit accidentally. It's not something I worry about, ever really. I have a much bigger problem with that damn fire coral, the bane of my diving existence. I got it on my lip once going near the bottom to get a pic of a seahorse. Now that hurt. But I've never had an uncomfortable experience with an eel.
 
The only close call i've had is one time down in the keys, my newly certfied girlfriend (now wife) thought she would help me get a better picture of a rather large green moray. She swam around behind and used her fin tip to chase it out towards me. It was too busy getting away from her to pay much attention to me, but I did nearly swallow my regulator!
Luv ya Honey!

BTW - I've kept a (now 4') Undulated moray for well over 20 years now. No bites yet.
 
there are several well documented case of people losing fingers to them. mostly (if not allways) it involves feeding them, not a good idea.
i believe there is a video of one biting off a guys thumb around somewhere (he was feeding it hot dogs, again-- STUPID SHOULD HURT...)
 
mayjong said:
there are several well documented case of people losing fingers to them. mostly (if not allways) it involves feeding them, not a good idea.
i believe there is a video of one biting off a guys thumb around somewhere (he was feeding it hot dogs, again-- STUPID SHOULD HURT...)
Click to expand...

I recall seeing something posted a while back on that.
I made the mistake of chasing a lobby that went into a cave, and when I popped in I was greeted by a 4-5' Moray, which surprised me because I did not realize there were any in my area(This was right in front of my house, my secret lobby dive spot)
I did a real quick back peddle, but he did nothing but let me know that was his cave.
I agree, it's usually feeding them or being stupid that gets you bit.
 
I do not find them to be aggressive. I have seen someone bit by a snowflake after they grabbed its tail. Shoot if someone grabbed mine, I would be a bit unhappy as well. Do not feed them, they don't see well. Also if taking pictures, be careful they don't see their reflection in your lens as they will think there is an intruder. And last, but definitely not least, if they do bite you, do NOT withdraw your hand as their teeth are sloped.
 
Boy, when I think about all the years I would just shove my hand blindly in a hole feeling for lobsters around here, often w/out a bottle.
That could have been a bad day if one held on for a bit.
I definitely don't do that anymore.
 
I have only seen once ~ We were on the Big Island out diving and had a crazy one on board with us. His feet had cuts and he looked a mess. We get in the water, he is poking his hands around under the rocks doing his best to get an octopus out from under the the rock. What a joke. The octopus gives him some ink and off he goes to the next rock. He has a camera in his hand working on getting some great photos. Lol... Let's not forget he was touching the octopus. Now he finds a moray eel, and he wants him to come out from the rock as well. He is waving his hand around at the eel.The eel grabs on to him and does not let go. Now there is blood coming from his hand. All I could think is we are going to have a shark dive! He freaked out and shot straight up. We were 60 feet under water. He could not shake the eel from his hand.
 
I think shooting up from 60 feet would feel worse than the eel bite.
There are a lot of eels around the Palm Beach and Jupiter area, where I go normally. I see them almost every time I get in the water. They never seem aggressive. I always thought that their open mouth was a sign of aggression until I found out that it's just how they breath.
 
I have never heard of a wild moray biting, except for two reasons...
1. being surprised by a hand in their cave/being grabbed
2. used to being fed by humans
 
ljr said:
I have never heard of a wild moray biting, except for two reasons...
1. being surprised by a hand in their cave/being grabbed
2. used to being fed by humans
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I saw a diver grab a snowflake by its tail and it is amazing how quickly an eel can whip around and grab. Remember eels hunt by smell and generally their eyesight is not all that great so hand feeding is a bit on the stupid side.
 
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