The Ocean's Most Dangerous Creature

The Damsel Fish...

Amen...lil bastids have made diving in Hawaii a nail-biting experience. Especially the kupipi(black-spotted damselfish). I say we cyanide the reef til we're free of em all...

No arm-hair is safe! Ouch!

Cheers

James

The Hawaiian Dascyllus is another beastly little thing when it is in mating mode. When they protect the nest they will actually make sounds and give warning nips. I was diving my favorite site in about 30 feet of water and was sliding up slowly to a turtle nook to get a shot or two. I wasn't paying attention to the cauliflower coral in front of me or the two dominos(dascyllus) that were staked out there. One reason is that they had changed from the usual dark black with a spot of white to almost pure white with an outline of black. They came out to greet me with a peck and a grunt, not unlike the humuhumunukunukuapua'a makes when it jumps into a hole to escape. Except they didn't back down. So I had to make sure I gave them their space next time I went in for the shot.

Actual attack photo!

Great shot, Dave!

My favorite Damsel lives in the rubble area right in front of the large, green moray on the City of Washington wreck in Key Largo, FL. This little fella always hides inside the rubble area and as you approach the moray's lair and move in close for a better look, the little damsel will time his stealthy attack just as you catch a glimpse of the shadow of the moray - usually nipping at a bare part of the skin. It never fails -- that little sucker always manages to scare the hell out of me even though I know that moray is the friendliest big fella you'll ever meet.

I've got some video of my dive buddy boxing with one (no actual physical contact) that is hilarious. The damsel would duck when my buddy would swing his arm and on the arm's return, the damsel would bullet straight towards him and nip away. After I threw in the towel, the damsel decided to beat the hell out of me too! Needless to say, that damsel has been named Muhammed Ali.

humuhumunukunukuapua'a

John - Would you pronounce that please?

Not sure if the Damsel wins the crown. When iwas diving on a bulk sugar transporter ship off Malaysia i was attacked by a moon wrasse, which thn preceded to attack me during the entire dive, going from one end of the ship to the other. It bit me so hard it drew blood. Sodding thing.

I have one too,

Yesterday (9.01.2003) I was diving on one of the wrecks on the NC, USA coast and after doing my 15 ft hang I realized I was not alone. There was an remore fish trying to attach to me. The remore was about 50 - 70 cm and I did the same boxing match with it and it did not give up, I even tried to hit it with my fin. Each time he was backing up a little bit and then comming back to me slowly. I even squirted some air at him but nothing.

I finaly was able to get out of the water when he attached to the bottom of the boat.

Vlad

I'd rather tangle with any of the creatures mentioned than an angry titan triggerfish!

Or any kind of trigerfish

I still have a mark from the bite I received last friday from a blue trigerfish!