On the last dive of the trip the divemaster pointed out a rare creature that I had not seen yet in many years of diving. The spotted snake eel buries itself up to the head in the volcanic sand and waits patiently for passing prey.

When an unsuspecting meal wanders too close the eel lunges out of the sand, mouth agape, and snatches a snack. I’ve read that they can also move around beneath the sand and forage out in the open at night.

This one was not at all distracted by our close approach.