66 UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



LARGE SPECIES 



The size and power of some marine animals should be a deterrent to handling 

 them or being careless in their presence. Since the sea is an environment to 

 which they, not the diver, are adapted, all animals of large size must be 

 respected. The best defense upon meeting large animals under water is to let 

 these animals see you as part of the environment and to move slowly and 

 without alarm. Here, as in aggressive species, taking the psychological advantage 

 and swimming toward them will usually drive them off. 



Possibly dangerous large animals: 



Large squids; Large octopuses; Whale shark; Basking shark; Manta ray; 

 Other large sharks and rays; Tarpon; Tuna; Spearfishes; Large groupers; 

 Jewfishes; Sea turtles; Seals; Sea lions; Porpoises; Whales. 



CHUMMING— ATTRACTING ANIMALS 



In most places, the majority of the animals of the sea are remarkably unafraid 

 of the diver because, until recently, he has left them comparatively unmolested. 

 In areas where spearing is done, fishes have become wary and difficult to 

 approach. For purposes of photography and observation, chumming is extremely 

 useful in attracting the wary and tame alike. Eventually, with periodic feeding, 

 quite quickly in fact, fishes and other more intelligent animals learn to recognize 

 their benefactors. It is a great thrill to be able to establish harmony with the 

 animals of the sea by chumming them. 



Very little is known about chumming. New techniques, methods, and subjects 

 should constantly be tried. It would be just as well not to try to chum sharks, 

 manta rays, huge jewfishes, or barracuda by feeding methods, but almost all 

 others, including sting rays, which have been known to be able to recognize 

 their feeders in captivity, might be tried. Chumming of very small fishes such 

 as wrasse, blennies, and gobies is very rewarding. Three general methods of 

 chumming may be used: 



1. Feeding. Good chum may be prepared from a mixture of sand, bread, and 

 shrimp. In place of shrimp, various other sea foods may be used, but red 

 meat is not successful because it bleaches out in water. Natural foods such 

 as broken sea urchins, shellfish, and large crustaceans are also successful. 

 The first step is to get fishes to eat in the presence of the diver— chum- 

 ming the area. If the diver is to be associated with the food, it is important 

 that the time between presentation of food and eating be as short as 

 possible and also that presentation of food be made often. Eventually, the 

 subject will be following the diver about, waiting for more offerings. 

 Groupers are particularly good subjects of this method. Morays are some- 

 what less "friendly" subjects, food placed near holes in reefs usually pro- 

 ducing one or more of them. Great masses of smaller fishes such as wrasse 

 never fail to accept food vigorously. 



2. Sounds. This is a subject about which very little is known and about 

 which critical experimentation is yet to be done. Mullets are known to 

 be attracted by bells. Croakers and grunts might respond to an imitation 



