A fight with a SHARK

[Skeeter1097]

My douther, soninlow and me. 75ft. in a fast moving golf stream { about 2.7mph]. We where on a reef in Palm Beach, Fl. Just riden the stream having a grat time. Vis was 50 to 60 and lots of life. Out of no where came a smal shark 31/2 ft. right in my face. First I pushed it away, then I punched it in the head. But he came back agin right under my arm pit. So I punched it agin, right back he came . My soninlow Steve was trying to stop me. At this time I was getting angry. This shark was swimming around my douther and she was tuching it. Thin it came after me agin so I was punching it agin.After 10 min. it finly left.
After the dive was over and we where in the boat my soninlow asked me. Way was I punching that arora I thain that was the name. It was the sucker fish that hangs on to sharks. I thought it was a little skark. He probly wonted a ride.
Its funny now but it was not at the time. For me anywas!!

[ShakaZulu]

Haha, that is actually funny............

[ReefGuy]

lol. BTW, they can and will latch on to you. I've never had it happen, but others here have. BTW, it's a remora.

[jonix]

remora...the shark's dive buddy :D

[HowardE]

I was also a little freaked out for a little bit the first time I saw remoras circling me... They really do look like little sharks.

[Wayward Son]

Never seen a 3 1/2 ft remora. The ones I see are much smaller, only about 12 to 18 inches.

My last dive on 9/17 we had a few, one attached to my buddies leg. They do have a sharky look about them.

[robo]

I one suck onto me once while snorkling, pried him off and he sucked on me again. It feels really weird on bare skin. Had to lightly beat him on the head with my pole spear shaft to get him to leave me alone. He looked sad and rejected as he swam off...poor little guy, just looking for a a ride.

When they approach you, you need to look around, and ask Where did his other ride go? You may have a shark or big cuda sneaking around somewhere. In the case above, it was a big old barnacle-covered cuda snooping around just outside the limits of visibility.

[Tom Winters]

Oh man...a 3+' remora. Wow, sticking that on some tourist would be awesome. No wait...as a diving professional, I would never condone the abuse of marine creatures and innocent tourists.
If I did sick stuff like that though, well, it's the stuff of dreams. I'm sure glad that I'm above that stuff now. 3 1/2' and up there in West Palm huh?

[robbcayman]

I think you just created a new language called Engrish. congwadurations pal!!!!!!!!!!!

[robo]

OOPS!, meant to say "I HAD one suck onto me once..."

[Walter]

It was probably a Sharksucker. I've never seen a Remora in Florida waters. Sharksuckers will sometimes bite.

[SueMermaid]

Doesn't that hurt like a muthah when they suck onto you? I had a dive buddy who was harrassed by one, and our DM desperately chased him away several times (the fish not the diver). I thought it was funny, but the DM told us that it was agony. I didn't really believe him, but we respected his knowledge.

[ReefGuy]

I've seen them at Venice Beach.


It was probably a Sharksucker. I've never seen a Remora in Florida waters. Sharksuckers will sometimes bite.

[Walter]

It doesn't hurt, although it is annoying.

[Skeeter1097]

I did not won't any part of this thang. Bitting or sucking on to me. I wonder how big is the thank that rides?

[robo]

It doesnt hurt, feels realy weird though. Sharksuckers are remoras.

[Skeeter1097]

it still is on my mined when I see them on a dive

[james croft]

I have had a couple remoras try to hitch a ride. One got on my shoulder in the Philippines and another pestered me in the Keys. I also was wondering where the sharks were that they came off of. I have noticed a correlation of big remoras on big sharks. A large remora would make me a bit edgy...

But I will take remoras over leeches anytime. Yuck !

[Papa_Bear]

They are in every ocean in the world! They ride with many different species including Turtles and Groupers! They feed off bits and pieces the other animals leave behind during feeding! They can be annoying at times, but harmless, and after all you can't stay down forever? Right? :D

[TSherman]

My oh my, I was reading this thinking....and I too drunk to understand? LOL!

I enjoy when divemasters sick that kind of thing on me when I visit Florida...normally makes for a great photo! Then we get to the boat and get a few more nice photos!

Good luck with the sharks, and their friends!

[TennInstr]

I had a buddy experience the same thing in the Dry Tortugas. He took a few swings at it because it was all over him. It was pretty funny.

[Gombessa]

My initial thought is that a remora wouldn't leave a shark to hitch a ride nearby on something smaller and potentially edible for the shark. If you were going to get chomped, the remora would probably want to be waiting on the sidelines rather than stand in the line of fire.