13 Dangerous Fish And Sea Animals

Jellyfish - Dangerous but Rare

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A jellyfish sting can injure a scuba diver. However, jellyfish stings are rare because these animals do not attack divers. The danger with jellyfish is that they frequently have long transparent tentacles that are difficult to spot, so a diver may accidentally swim into them.

 

Before diving in a new location, a diver should talk to local divers (and ideally sign up for an orientation dive with a local guide or instructor) to learn about hazards such as jellyfish. Most jellyfish stings can be avoided by wearing a full wetsuit or dive skin to prevent inadvertent contact with the tentacles.

Lobsters and Crabs - Not Dangerous

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Lobsters and crabs have powerful claws for crushing prey (such as clams) and for defense. Their claws are not for pinching divers. As divers are not the typical lobster/crab prey, a diver need not fear these crustaceans' claws unless he or she is threatening the animal. A diver who does not attempt to extract lobsters or crabs from the reef and instead enjoys observing these colorful creatures from a respectful distance will not be pinched.