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Fish Conditioning: Do fish become conditioned by contact with divers?

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In Mauritius, some of the species are completely relaxed, and others extremely nervous around divers. The most remarkable are the sharks in the shark pit in Mauritius. We have been there with a small group to find as many as 23 sharks finning around in the washing machine current. To them we do not exist. They completely ignore us.

Once they have got used to the fact that the air-breathers are harmless they go about their business happily, unafraid of the invaders.

In Mozambique the Potato Bass are happy to interact with divers, lying on the sand, eyeing them hopefully, swimming beside them and rubbing against them. The legendary Bert was among these.

The controversy over Cage Diving and chumming for sharks rages on, and although we enjoy the adrenalin rush of the Tiger Shark Dive at Aliwal Shoal, there is always a nagging doubt that we are supporting something that could lead to later danger. It is extremely rare for a diver to be attacked by a shark, unless he is in a bait ball or in the wrong place, or behaves foolishly. The Dive Operators who offer these extreme experiences have never themselves felt in any danger.

The raggies at Aliwal shoal are like bull terriers. They are completely familiar with divers, and they are unfazed by photographers. The pregnant females at Sodwana fin trance-like around groups of divers.

I watched Walter Bernardis brush a piece of sardine away from my buddy’s head just as a Black Tip was diving for it, and the Black Tip veered away from his hand. Shark diving is exhilarating, but I have never felt threatened by the animals themselves. After five years of diving with the Tigers, I have noticed that the grey reef and black tips that come to feed are no longer wary of divers. They brush you out of the way to reach the bait ball. Once they lose their fear of divers, these sharks are completely relaxed in the water.

The one animal that always seems completely aloof, has never changed, and which completely ignores diver and which typifies the apex predator is the Tiger. Nothing changes their behaviour that I have ever seen. They are always looking for something to taste. They are always alert to anything new in their world. They will always nibble on anything unfamiliar, and a nibble from a tiger can remove most of your torso.

Is it a bad thing for fishes to become conditioned to the presence of divers in their private domain? Theoretically, anything that changes the behaviour of a creature in its natural habitat is unwarrantable interference. However, the test of stress in a creature is whether it continues to live, to eat and to breed and the evidence of stress-free fish life is everywhere.

In the bad old days, Dive Masters in Mauritius used to conceal pieces of uneaten cheap Government bread in their BC pockets. Unnoticed by the early naiive Resort Course divers, the DMs crumble the bread into the water around them, and are soon mobbed by shoals of damsels, who like nothing more than a little French loaf for breakfast.

When you dived with certain Dive Operators there you had to swat away the aggressively seeking damsels. They bit your hands or the naked areas on your face. Their teeth are too small to draw blood, but the nip was painful nonetheless. Conditioned to expect something from divers? Absolutely.

At Sodwana Bay on Stringer Reef and on Quarter Mile Reef the Sergeant Majors (Abdadufduf abdadufduf ) lay their eggs in nests in the hollows of the eroded rocks and caverns. In December they can be seen hovering anxiously over their nests, but if a diver gets too close they dart away, and the wily wrasses pile in and gobble their eggs.

Incredibly, the Wrasses know they fear divers, and we have often been plagued by colourful wrasses weaving seductively in front of the camera lens, and then darting towards the Sergeant Majors’ nests hoping we will follow them. It’s almost as though they are saying, “Come on guys, come and look at these eggs, come and photograph these fish.” We have often seen pairs of mournful-looking Sergeant Majors rushing back to their eggless nests after an oblivious dive group has finned down for a closer look.

Conditioning? Looks like it.

Less obvious conditioning is on new or undiscovered reefs, where the fish are much more nervous when a group of divers arrives, and whole shoals will fin away from the intruders. I’ve seen this happen at little –known Reefs like Fusilier, or Snapper College at Sodwana.

Perhaps, just as we are learning about Reef Fish, they are learning about us – and if their behaviour is anything to go by, once they get to know us, they simply accept us.


Words Jill Holloway

Pic David Holloway

Copyright Ocean Spirit

www.osdiving.com

Jill Holloway lives in Mauritius and at Sodwana Bay Isimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa. A PADI qualified Nitrox diver with over 1,500 dives, she is a passionate observer and preserver of the marine environment, and has a database of over 35,000 fish pics and hundreds of Gopro videos on fish behaviour, which she shares with her readers.

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Spooktacular Underwater Adventure: Oyster Diving’s First Halloween Scuba Party at Mercers Lake

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halloween

Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.

halloween halloween

After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.

halloween

With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.

halloween

Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!

Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

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After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

 Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction


Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

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