USVI-On-Line

I found the barracuda picture I was thinking of! It looks like the original poster, Bob and Sharon, has not posted here for a couple of years. Too bad, I loved their trip reports and photos, and they were really helpful with IDing fish. Photo credit to Bob and Sharon Doppstein:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5182700692/" title="Resting by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/518 ... 90e255.jpg" width="500" height="448" alt="Resting"></a>

That photo is a hoot! I must say, the barracudas don't bother me as much as when I first started snorkeling. I certainly don't chase them but don't "run away" any more either. I did see a shark 2 years ago in the area between Francis and Maho which, I admit, got me out of the water faster than thunder and lightening. But like the barracudas, it wasn't the least bit interested in me.

There was a very unfortunate barracuda attack on a teenage girl in the Florida Keys this July. She was on a guided snorkel tour with her family, and the tour operators thought it would be just great to throw food into the water to attract fish. I believe that the barracuda was attracted to the mass of fish that was schooling around the baited water and attacked her arm. There were pictures and it was quite bad.

Not trying to scare anyone, but this highlights the absolute STUPIDITY of snorkeling and feeding the fish. I don't blame the girl, but the tour operator should have known better and in a just world would be forced to donate his right arm to this poor kid.