Giant Moray

Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC

Giant moray eels occupy the largest crevices in Kinasi Wall from the shallows to 30 metres depth, their heads regularly visible at cave entrances with mouths continuously opening and closing in a respiratory movement that reveals impressive dentition capable of inflicting serious wounds if a diver reaches into an occupied recess. They are cooperative hunters with Napoleon wrasse — a rare interspecies hunting partnership where the wrasse uses head-shaking behaviour to invite the eel, which then flushes prey from crevices the wrasse alone cannot penetrate. Individuals at Kinasi have been habituated by years of responsible dive tourism to accept close observation without retreating, making extended behavioural observation practical.