View Full Version : Conger eels dangerous ??
do congers ever attack divers ? they are mean looking beasts! not come face to face with one diving but hope when I do it won't attack me!:D
I had one bite my finger at Anchor Bay a few weeks ago. Not a problem, as 9 fingers is plenty for anyone! ;)
Lizardland
18-10-06, 12:17
There is the famous story about an instructor who was "attacked" by an eel at Conger Alley which dragged him to 60m (allegedly) and then ended up on the other side of the loch. He was found the next day on the beach and ended up in the chamber. It ended up on 999, probably about 9 or 10 years ago. I knew the guy, he was famous for his "epics", including an alleged kidnapping in the south of France with another "turned up the next day with amnesia" ending.
It must have taken him for some journey to get such depth in north Loch Long! ;) It probably took him on a jaunt over to check out the Caves and then down to GDRE to get some extra depth: a very obliging eel indeed. :eek:
It's good to know that eel abduction can account for lost evenings. I always wondered what was the causative factor when I was leading the student lifestyle. Not drink as I previously thought, but conger eels (even although I'd never dived back then)! :rolleyes:
There is the famous story about an instructor who was "attacked" by an eel at Conger Alley which dragged him to 60m (allegedly) and then ended up on the other side of the loch. He was found the next day on the beach and ended up in the chamber. It ended up on 999, probably about 9 or 10 years ago. I knew the guy, he was famous for his "epics", including an alleged kidnapping in the south of France with another "turned up the next day with amnesia" ending.
Yes he was a bit of a story teller, but nothing wrong with a good story Cameron bell was up there among the best. Congers will bite you if you stick your finger in there face and waggle it, but so would I. Cammy said that they looked at the depth gauge on his consol and it still read 60m from a previous dive. This sounded plausible to me as I had the same setup and I never set the needle to 0 at the start of every dive as I had a computer.
But as an answer to the original question no congers are tame, you dont bother them, and they dont bother you.
bubblemaker
18-10-06, 16:52
congers are tame.
No they're not. They are in fact wild animals, and as such should be treated with respect.
If you mean they are not aggressive then I'd agree with you. Congers, especially large ones, have the capacity to do you a lot of damage. However if you are sensible, and don't provoke them, then the chances of them attacking you are minimal.
This rule applies to pretty much everything you are likely to encounter in British waters. Congers can seem quite docile some times, but they can fairly shift when they want to.
So, don't waggle your finger at them, or give them any reason to bite you, and they wont. And you'll enjoy diving with them.
Live the dream.
BM
As long as you keep your fingers clear of them, you should be fine. I love showing my photos of congers or moray eels around the office and hearing the terrified gasps!
Nice to see the tale of the intrepid diver instructor is still alive.
Think he will never live that one down, Remember a while ago that the slaggings got that bad that mention of it was banned.
Congers are 100% muscle and not to be farted around with, they gentle like big dogs but bite when aroused.
Was in the red sea and the party trick of a dive guide was to slowly handle a large Morray about the length of him and give it a good cuddle.
Obviously he was a good snake charmer.
Could be a new PADI speciality course.
:D :D :D
Scuba-Doh!
18-10-06, 18:50
when doing my PADI dry suit course the two mandatory dives were at Conger Alley, the instructor took us down to the outcrop of boulders and quickly pointed out the congers to us (my buddy and I), we were then shown how to coax the congers out by tapping our fingers in front of them. I didn't have much luck but one of the girls doing her OW course managed to get a bite, which she was pretty proud of.
when doing my PADI dry suit course the two mandatory dives were at Conger Alley, the instructor took us down to the outcrop of boulders and quickly pointed out the congers to us (my buddy and I), we were then shown how to coax the congers out by tapping our fingers in front of them. I didn't have much luck but one of the girls doing her OW course managed to get a bite, which she was pretty proud of.
Who was your Instructor?
alexmaclennan
18-10-06, 19:33
It's good to know that eel abduction can account for lost evenings. I always wondered what was the causative factor when I was leading the student lifestyle. Not drink as I previously thought, but conger eels (even although I'd never dived back then)! :rolleyes:
Was it eel abduction or are you a BEERWOLF?
Beerwolf n. One who wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings with torn clothes, aching limbs, the taste of blood in the mouth and nightmarish flashbacks to terrible events of the previous evening :eek: .
alex
That describes what Sunday mornings used to be like for me :D
That describes what Sunday mornings used to be like for me :D
What are they like now?
Scuba-Doh!
19-10-06, 00:03
Who was your Instructor?
Now I wouldn't want to be getting anyone in trouble, would I? :)
Was it eel abduction or are you a BEERWOLF?
Beerwolf n. One who wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings with torn clothes, aching limbs, the taste of blood in the mouth and nightmarish flashbacks to terrible events of the previous evening :eek: .
alex
No, I don't think I qualify as I never got flashbacks, just had to rely upon the ramblings of my companions to fill in the gaps of the lost evenings.
What are they like now?
Been off the booze for about 16 years, though I am not tee total, I just don't bother with it anymore. The last time I was stewed was when Ding kept pouring Tequila Slammers down my neck at an Eastwood weekend at Inverary.:eek:
Been off the booze for about 16 years, though I am not tee total, I just don't bother with it anymore. The last time I was stewed was when Ding kept pouring Tequila Slammers down my neck at an Eastwood weekend at Inverary.:eek:
Its a club tradition now Tequila slammers to start the night and a little of what u fancy later....
Its a club tradition now Tequila slammers to start the night and a little of what u fancy later....
I was made to do a tequila slammer with a fish eye in it on my initiation solstice weekend.....not good
dive granny
02-11-06, 22:37
I was made to do a tequila slammer with a fish eye in it on my initiation solstice weekend.....not good
Remember it well. Don't think you believed us at first.:( Think that was the same year that later on into the night,the Tequila didn't actually contain tequila!!!:mad:
Nederlander
03-11-06, 11:55
The guy who supposedly got attacked by the conger at ardgarten was in fact suffering from a rare self harming psychological disorder called Munchausens Disease by proxy where people harm themselves (or sometimes others) to get attention. Sounds like some of the tosspots Ive had the misfortune to dive with actually:D Anyhow I knew a Dutch truckdriver who drove abroad and he knew this guy and apparently he got "kidnapped" from his truck outside Marseille by"aliens" and after yet another amnesiac episode was found wandering by the roadside two days later with recollection of what happened.... Mind you the guy sound like a real hoot to go out for a pint with:p
Congers are in general pretty docile however I dont think it wise to provoke them as Ive seen them bite clean through a wire trace used to fish them and its well documented what they do to mussel shells.
Interestingly Ive only had one scary experience with them and it was on the wreck of the Glenhead in the Kilbrannan Sound when I shone my torch into the funnel and one came flying out and nearly hit me in the face:eek: Its the only time Ive seen a conger free swimming.Apparently congers dont have cornea in their eyes and so if you shine your torch straight in their face...well how would you like someone to waken you up in the middle of the night by shinning a divelight into your coupon...
Maybe best to mind that next time you see one.