No surprise to me as a spearfisher. People have this impression that we go underwater with a "gun" and fish are just lining up in front of you. Nothing could be

No surprise to me as a spearfisher. People have this impression that we go underwater with a "gun" and fish are just lining up in front of you. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fish can tell the difference between your average scuba diver or snorkeler not just by seeing the speargun, but by recognizing body posture and watching your eyes for intent. Their lateral line is a sophisticated sensor used to feel vibrations in the water, so they can literally feel the tension in your muscles. They also learn socially, so if one fish on the reef is nearby and has had a bad experience with a diver, they will sound the alarm for everyone else. Fish really are inquisitive, and can even have individual personalities. It's well worth getting to know them in their own environment.