Huge 6 Foot Moray Eel Hides From Divers

The green moray eel pictured in this beautiful footage was recorded in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Playa Del Carmen offers many dive and snorkel locations as the reef along the shoreline carries on from Cancun to the north, all the way to the south near Belize. These beautiful moray eels can grow to a length of 2.5 meters or 8 feet in length and weigh 29 kilograms or 65 pounds. These divers were vacationing in Playa Del Carmen and had scheduled a dive day with Phantom Divers. The local weather had not been the best with rough waters and large waves. Deciding to stay near shore, the dive master chose Tortuga Reef dive site for their first dive of the day. Dropping over the edge of the boat, the group descended and soon found themselves in strong current whisking them along the sea floor and possible 3 knots. Passing by one very large sea turtle, you will see this guy has been around many years as he has barnacles all over its shell. Zooming along, flying over large sponge formations, two divers notice the seemingly “hiding” moray eel that is the subject of the video. Remaining low along the bottom and behind the sponge, this 6 foot long beauty stayed within his protection even when the divers come in close. Although looking very ferocious with their mouths constantly opening and closing, they do this to actually breathe. This action takes in water and forces it through their gills for their body to absorb oxygen from within the water. Although the Moray eel is actually brown in color, the mucous that covers its body along with the drab color of the water makes their skin appear a yellowish green. Having scales bodies, these eels are often feared and mistaken as “sea serpents”. Being a sedentary type creature, the moray eels have very large teeth and strong jaws, and rather than chase down their prey they wait motionless for their prey to swim by. Striking quickly they can grab the passing by prey and with their strong jaws and sharp teeth, the prey is unlikely to escape the eels grasp. Seeming very mean and nasty by their looks, these moray eels are actually docile unless tormented. Smiling for the camera, this beautiful creature did not seem to mind these divers recording him at all. What a beautiful world below the waves.