rrr@ptsfb.UUCP (Rod Rucker) (01/02/86)
>>I was recently diving at Point Lobos in California at a dive spot >>called Coal Shute. It is a wonderful place to dive with a >>multitude of sea life. Coal Shute is interesting diving because >>of the many caves in the area. In one of the caves that my dive >>partner and I entered, there was a large animal. >>Its head was as big as my chest, and the body extended back into >>the dark. We approached within 7 or 8 feet and put a light on it. >>It had many smiling teeth, and light from its eyes shown back reflected >>from the dive light. I was lucky enough to have my nikonos with me and >>took a couple of pictures. >>I thought it was a variety of grouper that had strayed into the area >>because of its size, but it had the head of a California Moray. >>Does anyone know how big these things get? Its body was hidden behind >>rocks and difficult to see in the dark, but the head of this monster >>was awesome. >>Rod Rucker >Rod, >I may be able to help you in your quest to find a name for this >LARGE ANIMAL you saw, but first I need to ask a few questions. >1. Do you drink before you dive? Yes, heavily. Its the only way to stay warm in the 52 degree water. >2. Were you at a depth greater then 100 feet? No, its too dark at one hundred feet. In addition, no amount of drinking (see above) could induce me to enter a cave in water deeper than one hundred feet. >3. How small is your chest? The circumference in inches match the IQ of red headed divers. >4. Has your dive partner ever been known to turn on you? Only in caves where there are large Morays. >5. Would you please describe SMILING TEETH? Hold up mirror, think of an enjoyable encounter, then look at mouth. >6. Did you take pictures of this LARGE ANIMAL? Yes >7. Do you think it was (a) a LARGE ANIMAL (b) a MONSTER > or (c) a awesome monster with smiling teeth that is also > a large animal. Actually, all three are accurate descriptions. It would be called a large animal from a distance of 10 feet, a monster from a distance of 5 feet, and an awesome monster with smiling teeth (see above definition of smiling teeth) when viewed from a distance of 3 feet. >If the pictures turn out you may be able to find a book >at a local dive shop that will answer your question, if not >please answer the above questions. Your suggestions was a good one. When comparing the picture, the creature was identified as a large California Moray. >By the way divers should always carry a knife, if sharks are around >you cut your partner (never dive with someone that can swim faster >than you) and swim for the boat. Ray, do you ever have trouble finding a dive partner? Rod Rucker