Moray Eels - The curious reef dweller

Moray eels eat a variety of animals including: fish, mollusks, crustaceans and whatever else they can catch or find.

If you look carefully at the animals, they look like sponges or branching corals of the reef. A big green moray looks like a green upright sponge, while Goldentail morays look like Finger Coral (Porites porites). This camouflage deceives the eels prey...

Eels are an important part of the ecosystem as they clean up dead and dying animals helping to keep disease in check.

Montego Bay also holds garden eels, key worm eels and gold-spotted and sharp-tailed eels, but no actual sea snakes.

When you encounter a moray eel, think of it as a large, strange dog. If you do not bother it, it will not bother you. Enjoy them from a distance. Their mouth gaping is simply how they breathe. It is not a snarl or aggressive display.