Salt water crocs

[Texasguy]

I have read that there are some salt water crocs around Cozumel island. Evidently they don't attack humans, as luck will have it.

Have you seen one while scuba diving in Cozumel?

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Actually it is quite common to see the "fresh water" crocs come out into the ocean. IT is believed that they do so to rid themselves of parasites. Most common is in the north hotel zone from Puerto Abrigo north, but since I have been there in 1992 none of them have EVER harmed a person. I have sen them try to get a dog, but missed.

They are a subspecies called Moret's Crocs and do not get very big...but they do scare the hell out of people when swimming with them!


Not my choice either.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[deborahdelamar]

Won't say that it can't happen on a shore dive, but it's extremely rare to see one -- like once in a lifetime, if ever. They don't travel very far from home or from shore. Last fall, one was spotted just off one of the downtown piers by a dive instructor. That croc was out of its element, which was likely up north near Dave's place! It was reported, caught, and moved down south to Colombia lagoon.

 

[Mossman]

I dunno Dave, I'd pay good money for a crocodile dive

 

[pjhansman]

South end near the lighthouse....

 

[ozarkjim]

We were at the south lagoon a couple of years ago when a tour showed up. The guide started grunting and here comes one of the big males to eat free chicken. He was a 16 footer and the guide said there are some up to 18 feet long. That's plenty big enough for me.

 

[blue steal]

Our boat pulled into the Caleta one morning to pick up some supplies. I was going to jump off into the water to well, "check the hull", but the captain said not to as there were crocs in the marina. Not sure if he was pulling my leg but used the banos in the marina instead.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Yes, there are Crocs in Caletta now and then, but my guess as to the size in other posts are exaggerated. One more time, in 20 plus years here I have NEVER heard of any diver or tourist being hurt, or even bothered by one of these Moret's Crocs.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[Tigerman]

Im sure if you actively piss them off theill take a jab at you

(and youll deserve all thats coming to you if you do so)

 

[DandyDon]

Moret's Croc is a new name to my searching, maybe a local name? Or maybe my searching fails. I think they are American Crocs, altho possibly a sub species. Wkipedia says they use fish for cleaning, and attacks are rare but more likely than from an Aligator: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_crocodile

They've been discussed here before at times. See http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/90477-cozumel-crocodiles.html

Wait, Mexico has two species of Crocodile. Maybe they are Morelet's? That closer to the name Dave used for the locals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morelet's_crocodile