The Barracuda is an ominous creature that strikes some amount of trepidation in the hearts of Scuba Divers whenever one is spotted circling lazily, more due to the several stories of barracuda attacks on humans and the fact that this predatory fish can dart from a stationery position to warp speed quicker than one can say barracuda. Any diver who has seen this toothy creature hunt down a fish will testify that it is one fearsome hunter.
Barracudas known as sea Pikes, mainly due to its elongated Pike-like appearance (minus the teeth), are in-fact not related to the Pike in any way. With prominent sharp-edged teeth that come in all different sizes, and a pointy head, some species of the barracuda can grow up to 6 feet in length which adds to its intimidating nature. Barracuda are found all over the world primarily in tropical and sometimes in temperate waters often near coral reefs.
As predators, the Barracuda are extremely successful fish, they have the ability to surprise their prey with short bursts of speed (up to 28 miles per hour (45 km/h) and are voracious feeders. Younger Barracuda swim in large groups known as a battery, and once they reach full size, adult males break away and become solitary hunters. Barracuda are opportunistic hunters and will prey on any kind of fish that chances along its way when its hungry. Barracuda are also known to have great eyesight, but being opportunistic hunters, they are also notoriously known to attack first before identifying its prey.
Is it reasonable to be afraid of barracudas? The answer is no, just like sharks, the risk of being attached by a barracuda is extremely low. Of the 22 barracuda species found throughout the world, the great barracuda is the only one known to attack humans. Usually incidents take place in murkier waters, near harbors, where it is theorized that the barracuda on sighting the glint of a shiny object, mistaking it to be a fish, will attack. This is why it is advisable for divers to refrain from wearing shiny glinting objects like watches, bracelets, rings and chains while diving in barracuda infested waters, especially where the visibility is poor, as barracuda are known to attack first and ask questions later. Most barracuda attack victims have been fisherman and only a couple of incidents in decades of a diver being attacked. Barracuda will only attack in murky waters if it mistakes a human as prey, or if it spots a shiny object which it mistakes for a fish, if it is provoked, or if a diver/fisherman is swimming with dead fish in their hands. Spearfishing near barracuda or hand feeding barracuda is considered extremely dangerous.
As barracuda have two rows of sharp teeth, and with its slashing attack, even a bite is capable of causing severe tendon, nerve and tissue damage often severing major blood vessels, which is the cause of most barracuda attack related fatalities.
Barracuda will more often than not keep their distance from divers; however their inquisitive nature results in them often circling a group of divers at a distance which can be rather unnerving for most. The best thing for a diver to do when confronted with barracuda, is to keep your distance and avoid provoking them and making sudden jerky movements, more often than not the barracuda will simply keep its distance and swim away into the blue.
