Bananas and Fish

[Laurie S.]

One of the local dive shop operators here in Mexico won't allow anyone to bring bananas on his boat because he says fish don't like the smell and stay away. No, this is not a joke. So, any truth to this?

 

[knotical]

There’s an old sailor’s superstition that bananas on a sailing vessel are bad luck, presumably because so many old-time sailing vessels that sank in the Caribbean were carrying them. Never heard it associated with fish.

I have often eaten bananas on scuba boats, including many wonderful dives with lots of fish.

 

[Chugwhump]

That's bananas.

Chug
'Nannerz on boats is good 'eetin.

 

[tursiops]

Bananas are popular on some day boats because people get sick, and when the bananas inevitably come out they don't hurt and sting like some other things do.
On the other hand, see Dive Boat Superstitions and snopes.com: 'Bananas on a Boat' Superstition.

 

[Wingy]

Banana's on boats superstition goes back to the 1600s..I had a look through some of the 1600s logs we have onboard our ship and found mention of bananas. Gas given off as bananas ripened spoiled the rest of fruit or vegetables in the hold hence the superstition actually does have some basis in fact.

 

[Laurie S.]

Interesting, thanks!

 

[Mitchiemoo]

The fish in French polynesia seemed attracted to Bananas.

 

[Laurie S.]

I figured it had to be something other than the odor of the bananas. LOL