Scuba diver films aquatic bird catching fish 40 feet underwater

Cormorants are aquatic birds that are unbelievably agile in the ocean, feeding primarily on fish. They are extremely capable hunters, able to outmaneuver even the most slippery salema as this bird demonstrates so clearly.Show more

Solon is an experienced scuba diver who is exploring the rocks around an island in the Galapagos. Although he has been diving for more than 35 years, working as a scuba dive master, he captured something on film that he has witnessed only a handful of times in the many thousands of dives that he has done. A cormorant appeared over the rocks in front of him, hunting for a meal.
The bird ignores Solon and swims so close to him that he could have touched it with his hands. Showing off lightning speed, the cormorant streaks back and forth as it pokes its head into crevices in an attempt to catch something unseen. There is a fish that knows it is being pursued and it is doing its best to find a hiding spot that protects it from the sharp beak of the cormorant. The chase goes back and forth with the bird changing directions at what seems to be an impossible speed. The fish eventually finds itself cornered and the bird spears it with its beak, quickly making its way to the surface where it will swallow the fish whole.

Cormorants rarely tear their food. They will pursue only what they can fit down their throat. Solon continues his dive, amazed by what has taken place right in front of him. He captured more footage of the millions of salemas that were like a cloud above them.

The food web is complex and animals can be predators one minute and prey the next. It is fascinating to see this in action as one of the species employs such skill to stay alive in what can be a very hostile world.