Swimming with “Devil Fish”

“Are you afraid of sharks?” It’s probably the question I’m asked most frequently when folks learn that I’m a marine biologist. The short answer is, not really. For I am far more afraid to encounter the creatures that SCUBA divers call “devil fish.”

Sharks putter along at a standard speed, whereas “devil fish” charge in and out of sight in a flash. And they always see you before you see them. While sharks are typically either uninterested or scared of divers, “devil fish” are dangerously curious. They might swim up to your mask, chomping teeth together. A shiver runs down your spine at the realization they might nip at your colorful fins or pull the regulator from your mouth. A shark may attempt to nibble, but a “devil fish” could make you their toy until you drown.

I am, of course, referring to dolphins. And while I’ll happily watch them play from the boat, I’d really rather not dive with them.