The Whiff of Danger

I think it’s true to say that most of us are fascinated by mildly dangerous situations. Testament to this could be the popularity of rollercoasters, in the grand scheme of things, they are pointless contraptions, but nonetheless, you can’t help but enjoy them. Scuba diving is even better than rollercoasters; it’s got the thrill of potential peril, weightlessness and equipment akin to space travel, and best of all lets you into a world full of fascinating creatures and adventures.  It starts to become addictive, imagining what we’ll see today, each dive is filled with anticipation.

For me, the most alluring animals are those that can pull off being exceptionally beautiful, safe in the knowledge that they are extremely poisonous. The Lion Fish is a well-known favorite, adding a twinge of excitement to any underwater escapade. Adorned with fire-striped fins dangling off their bodies in long ribbons, they look more like Christmas decorations than deadly predators. They can usually be found chilling under ledges, twitching their fins provocatively, each fin a hollow tube capable of delivering potent venom. Their wing-like fins can be draped around little fishy snacks, before being sucked into a hungry mouth, or raised as a warning when their personal space is encroached. Luckily the effectiveness of their weaponry allows them to be rather lazy, their embellished features prevents them from swimming very fast, and they certainly wouldn’t waste energy chasing us. All good news, as it means we are able to have a closer look at them in all their glory without the imminent danger of being attacked.

Sharks of course, are also always a pleasure to encounter underwater. The first few sightings never fail to send a dose of adrenaline coursing through the veins. They exude confidence as they elegantly glide above the coral cutting through the water with purpose and grace. Thankfully our location, inside the protection of the atoll’s edge, means the reef is only suitable for the small, unthreatening reef species. But what we lack in size we make up for with numbers. There are plenty of sharks in this area, The Maldives was the first county in the world to put a complete ban on shark fishing, and Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is in such a remote area that the local shark population is booming. Our house reef is teaming with both black and white-tip reef sharks, it’s not uncommon to see three or four on a leisurely snorkeling trip, even the land-lovers catch glimpses of them from the jetties or water villas. I saw more sharks in one snorkel on our house reef than I did in the entire year I lived in the north of the country. In fact, after a few encounters with our plentiful and friendly reef sharks, their reputation for teeth and a bad temper is long forgotten. When I saw one having a little nap on the seabed this afternoon, it reminded me more of a Labrador puppy than the ferocious beasts you see on film.

Exciting though they are, dangerous marine organisms should always be approached with the respect they deserve. Even inanimate coral, which has no means to advance or attack can be responsible for their fair share of injuries. The thick and bushy coral garden surrounding Hadahaa forms a complete and impenetrable barrier between the blue and beach. The intricate network of skeletons means that the coral is very sharp. Taking care not to touch anything in the water and approaching deadly creatures with caution ensures that we can all enjoy our underwater rollercoaster rides without meeting with a sticky end. 

A beautifully deadly Lionfish (Pterois volitans)