Grouper Attacks Diver

fergyjohn · Jan 3, 2002

G'day all,
Collected my morning newspaper and the headline read Grouper attacks Yongala diver.
Apparently a Swedish backpacker was hanging off the 5m safety line when the 2m groper put his mouth over the divers head, he said later he thought it was a shark until it released him and he saw what it was.

This is my favourite dive site and I dive the wreck regularly and I know the resident Groupers and this just seems out of character for them, the are usually docile friendly creatures.
The diver ended up with a few minor scratches around his neck.
The newspaper went on to say that another diver (Instructer) went into the water about 5 minutes later and the grouper had a go at him, he said he fended it off with his fins.
Interesting to see what developes, hope they don't go and do anything stupid and have an almighty kneejerk reaction......

Only the good Dive young...

Asiandivergal · Jan 3, 2002

hmmmm hope this doesnt sound stupid....but what's a groper? Havent seen of heard of a groper before (except the human type)

monster · Jan 3, 2002

Maybe fergyjohn means Grouper?

Did any of you read that article a few months back, about this sea turtle in Florida that was, ah, harrassing divers?

vicky · Jan 3, 2002

A diver got a bite on the head from a 2m grouper?
Amazing. Was the fish hungry or angry?
I was attacked once by a 40cm triggerfish and it was a very scary situation. Probably I'd die if such a huge fish attacks me.

ScubaBaby · Jan 3, 2002

Vicky

Triggerfish tend to have a bit of a turn once a year when they're "in season!"

If women can have an excuse to bite heads off once a month I think the fish only getting to do it once a year is fair enough!

Zept · Jan 3, 2002

Groper, grouper, garoupa... it depends where you are.

Alternative definition: a big fish that disappears as soon as my buddy points at it, so I end up staring at nothing. Except occasionally she swears it was bumphead parrotfish. They all look like empty ocean to me

Zept

Liquid · Jan 3, 2002

Heard about a grouper killing a swimmer in italy a few years back. It was a 150 kilos and it bit the poor swimmer until he died of blood loss.

lakesdiver · Jan 3, 2002

Maybe his hair gel smelled tasty...

Bob · Jan 3, 2002

To All,
Some large Groupers can be quite territorial. At times they are docile, and then there are the times when they want their space. I'm not afraid of them, but I do give them all the room they need. Just a personal preference on my part, wild animals are wild animals and they are unpredictable. :tree:Bob

Asiandivergal · Jan 3, 2002

hence selective reading - only saw groper instead of grouper - i wonder why??

Bob - yup u are rite, esp when u get too close to them for comfort. This happened to a friend who was exploring a mini cave and came face-to-face with a huge groper - oops i mean grouper

and this "gentle" guy eyeballed him real hard, backing him out of the cave, outta his space. You'd be surprised, sometimes when i see a fish that is really intriguing and follow real closely, the way it stares at me can be quite frightening, even if it's just a gentle creature.

Grouper Attacks Diver

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