By Jeffrey “Hammerhead” Philips:
I descended deeper than 100 feet and gazed at the massive propeller of the Princess Anne. Only the tip of one copper colored blade pressed into the soft sand. In the hollow under the stern I felt a presence hiding in the darkness. With a slight kick of my long blade fins, I eased closer to the unknown. Something massive shifted in the shadows. Edging past the propeller and gazing under the rusted stern a boom hit me.
The boom shook my body from the mask to fins as the immense sound echoed off the rusted hull. I had been warned by a Goliath grouper. Many fishermen and divers call the emitted noise a “bark.” But that term diminishes the deep, resonant bass vocalized by these massive creatures.
The 6-foot fish calmly finned into the filtered daylight, the rays of sunshine reflected off his splotched olive green body while I hovered in awe by the magnificent creature.
That experience occurred back in the mid-90s when sighting a Goliath was rare. Their numbers plummeted to less than 5 percent of previous years, causing widespread concern. Thus, in 1990, the state of Florida placed a moratorium on harvesting them. A 2006 evaluation suggested their population had grown to about 30 percent. And because of this slow growth, the species remains critically endangered.
A reclusive fish, Goliaths like to hide in rocky caves and caverns, inside or under abandoned wrecks, or under sponge-lined ledges. Once the mating season begins in July, August, and September, they frolic out in the open blue water, while staying close to their refuges. Instead of the opportunity of sighting one or two, Goliaths are visible congregating in groups of 20 to 40, sometimes as many as 100. The females release their eggs first in the open water, and then males release sperm. Upon fertilization, the eggs are pelagic and drift with the currents.
I count myself blessed to have been able to dive with these truck-size creatures during spawning season. To be immersed in a horde of 600- to 800-pound, 5- to 8-foot-long fish is breathtaking. I pray that Goliath grouper populations will continue to increase to their original numbers. The underwater world is truly amazing and should be enjoyed by everyone.
Pura Vida Divers will host a free social night at their Singer Island, Fla. location on Friday, Aug. 14 featuring a Goliath presentation. Also, that weekend will be Goliath weekend with special charters for divers to interact with these creatures.
I would like to give a special thank you to Andrea Whitaker for the photographs.
For those who would like to dive with these amazing marine creatures, August and September are the best months to do so. Join Pura Vida Divers on daily dives to the reefs or visit their website www.puravidadivers.com. Pura Vida Divers also offer private dive guides to enhance your enjoyment.
Contact Jeffrey “Hammerhead” Philips and Pura Vida Divers at 561-840-8750.