American eels

[Fyshebait]

I hope this is the right place to post this.

Here is a video clip I shot last summer of a couple of American eels in Prince Edward Island. These are one of my favorite animals to see in our area. We were doing some work on a mussel lease, and at the end of the day I just grabbed my camera to shoot a few minutes of video and use up some of my air (can't end the day with a 3/4 full tank!) This was some very lucky footage...we see these eels all the time, but it's extremely difficult to get close...they generally bolt as soon as they see a diver. I don't know if it was the light on the camera that attracted them, but I was very excited about this clip!

The footage was shot with a Sony Hi8 camcorder using an Ikelite housing.

ScubaBoard Gallery - American eels - PEI July 2008 - Powered by PhotoPost

 

[robint]

very cool, nice catch! how big were they? Very odd how they kept coming up looking at the camera.

 

[Fyshebait]

These eels are about 3' + long...the biggest ones probably wouldn't be more than 4'. When we're diving on mussel lines, especially in some of the bays, you can't go 30 minutes without running into them. IMO, they are one of the prettiest animals you see in Atlantic Canada. I had been trying for years to get a decent photo of them, but between the typically poor vis and their skittishness, could never manage it. This was a fluke, and will likely never happen again!

 

[shoredivr]

Hi Fyshebait, caught your post over on the Canadian forum, this is a great clip. They're certainly curious about you!

 

[NAIBdiver1]

Great video - very unique !