From what I've read on the forum & elsewhere, and what I see, my concerns about potential hostile animals encounters are:
What I see:
1.) 'Rubble diving' shallow at the end of shore dives, it's possible I could swim over a scorpionfish & get nailed if I'm too close to the bottom.
2.) Night diving, I could step or fall on a sea urchin, or be swept into one by surge, getting in or out shore diving. Ditto fire coral.
What I read:
1.) Occasionally morays acclimated to being fed & handled by dive guides may come out to 'greet' divers. While it's unlikely to attack you, a large green moray swimming up close & personal into your immediate space could be worrisome.
2.) Spear fishing can agitate sharks; not just the blood but also the thrashing. If you get into spear fishing, you may have to manage some conflict with animals that want your catch. 3
3.) People may deliberately seek out encounters with oceanic white tip sharks, pelagics who you're not likely to stumble across on most reef dives. They are said to be curious, willing to get close & personal sometimes, and they are potentially dangerous.
4.) It's highly unlikely you're going to jump into the water unprotected with a bunch of humboldt squid in a feeding frenzy, or with sharks nearby tearing into a whale carcass.
5.) Some jellyfish species can be very bad news. This is something you may consider in some parts of the world.
Basically, if you wanted to get yourself killed, you could do it. But it's unlikely you're going to be randomly attacked doing mainstream diving without spearfishing.
Richard.
