It's Only Natural - Morays Can Bite the Hand that Feeds Them March / April 2007 Issue By: Doc Vikingo The May/June '06 issue carried an article on the history of run-ins between morays and divers near Stingray City and the Sand Bar in Grand Cayman's North Sound ("It's A Moray . . . You Don't Always Get What You Feed"). The run-ins have continued sporadically. Despite repeated requests by the Cayman Island's Department of the Environment (DoE) that watersports operators refrain from feeding or encouraging interaction with green morays, this practice continues. "After all, divers and local operators have enjoyed this practice for many years," said a DAN Member who recently traveled to Cayman. "Many of us feel that an occasional bite is worth the interaction. We're dealing with wild creatures here; that's part of the thrill of diving with them." According to Cayman News Net, on Oct. 11, 2006, in an area off the Sand Bar known as "the reef," a dive guide played with a moray for the entertainment of his diving customers. Apparently aware of possible danger, he reportedly told his group to cross their arms and clench their fists if the creature approached. The customer who recounted this incident noted that several of those on the tour were given squid to feed the eel. At some point, the guide, who was also the captain, was bitten on the arm severely enough to incapacitate him and require multiple surgeries and several days' hospitalization. The May 2006 article noted that the DoE was considering new approaches to manage such activities, including limiting the number of boats and people present at any one time, as well as restricting the amount of squid/bait per craft. To date, the DoE hasn't publicized their specific proposed amendments to current marine conservation law. However, it has indicated that "wildlife interaction zones" are to be established wherein the feeding of marine animals would be tightly regulated. Feeding of underwater creatures outside of these zones would be prohibited. In the meantime, our earlier advice stands: Pay attention to your surroundings, don't wear shiny objects, and don't wave your hands or fingers or provoke marine life in any other way. To this we add, ask watersport operators about their policies regarding interactions with morays. Heed their rules and respect the wildlife, and you'll enjoy your dive - we'll all be happier for it.   Know What to Do Accidents happen, no matter how cautious we are. Plus, there are those times we forget to be consistently vigilant. You might be searching in a rocky crevice for a lobster dinner (in season, of course), or you might have inadvertently jostled a creature making way for your dive buddy near the reef. What happens if you or your buddies get bitten? Could you handle the situation? Wouldn't it be great to know right away the steps to first aid for this? You can get that know-how by signing up for DAN's First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries course. You'll learn how to identify the problem quickly and how to take immediate action. To find a course near you call DAN Training at 1-800-446-2671 or +1-919-684-2948 ext. 555 or go to http://www.DiversAlertNetwork.org/training/ to see the DAN courses. To find an instructor, simply add 'directory/.'   DOs & DON'Ts in the Prevention of Marine Animal Injuries Here are some tips, however blunt, about getting along with marine life. They appear in DAN's Dive and Travel Medical Guide, a membership benefit when joining DAN. Avoid contact with the animal: This sounds simple, but it may not be if you have poor buoyancy control and / or are experiencing conditions of poor visibility, currents, confined areas or other environmental limitations. Do not attempt to handle, tease, feed or annoy any marine animal. Exploring a crevice with your hand is a good way to receive an injury from a hidden animal defending itself. Strive to develop excellent buoyancy control and be aware of what surrounds you. Do not allow a current to force you against a fixed object; it may be covered with marine animals. Wear protective clothing. Make an effort to find out which animals you may encounter in your dive and learn about their characteristics and habitats before you begin the dive. This will help you enjoy your dive more and prevent possible injury from the animals you encounter.   About the Author Doc Vikingo is a regular contributor to Undercurrent and in the past wrote a monthly column for Scuba Diving. A mental health professional in the greater Washington, D.C., area for nearly 30 years, he made his first dive with a double hose regulator and no BCD.   (c) DAN - Alert Diver March / April 2007