The waters of Kefalona Island attracts snorkelers and divers, who spend their holiday here. The Ionian Sea near Kefalonia offers one of the safest waters for swimming and snorkeling in Greece, where most of the marine animals are harmless, and there live just a few fishes in the waters of the area, which can be dangerous.
Important to known that beaches of Kefalonia are generally safe, and just a few species of fishes can be potentially dangerous to humans. Most of the local fishes are not agressive and not attacking people, their dangerous nature come mostly from defensive mechanisms or venomous stings. Now take a look to the potentially dangerous fishes in Kefalonia’s waters, how to identify them, and safety tips for minimizing risks during your marine explorations!
Scorpionfish (Scorpaena spp.)
Scorpionfish are one of the more hazardous species in Kefalonian waters due to their venomous spines, which can cause painful injuries if accidentally touched. The scorpionfishes are masters of camouflage, with colors that range from reddish-brown to mottled brown and gray, helping them blend seamlessly with rocky or sandy sea beds. The size of the scorpionfish is not big at all, its length is approx 12-20 centimeters in the waters of Ionian Sea.
They have a robust, spiny body with well-developed pectoral fins and a large, rough head covered with bony plates and spines. These marine animals prefer rocky, shallow areas close to the sea floor, where they lie motionless, camouflaged among rocks. The dorsal and pelvic spines of the scorpionfishes are venomous, and stepping on or touching these spines can cause severe pain, swelling, and in some cases, infection or serious allergic reactions. In extreme cases, the venom may lead to more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or nausea.
Most of the seabeds of Kefalonian beaches are almost totally free from scorpionfishes, and we never see them at such popular beaches as Antisamos, Myrtos, Xi, Skala, etc. Due to sea currents unfortunately these marine animals cannot be completely ruled out, such as jellyfishes.
The first and most important safety tip for scorpionfishes is that avoid touching or stepping on any fish you see resting on the sea floor! If you would like to snorkel on rocky beaches which are unknown to you, or the shallow seabed is rocky, always wear water shoes. If stung, soak the affected area in hot water (as hot as the person can tolerate) to help neutralize the venom and seek medical attention.
Lionfish (Pterois miles)
The lionfishes are not native in the Ionian Sea. Due to climate change in recent years there can be seen a few specimens near the coasts of Kefalonia (as well in the waters of other Ionian Islands). No doubt these fishes are beautiful and interesting creatures, but they are venomous! The lionfishes have long, flowing spines on their body, and unfortunately these fishes can cause painful stings.
In the Ionian Sea the lionfishes live usually in rocky areas and seabeds, hunting smaller fishes and crustaceans at night. The primary danger to humans are its venomous spines, which can cause a painful sting. The primary snorkeling safety tip is that avoid touching or swimming close to lionfishes. If an accident happens and stung, firstly hot water immersion is recommended, and visit a doctor for medical care.
Moray Eel (Muraenidae Family)
Primarily the underwater caves are home of the moray eels in the waters of Kefalonia Island in Greece. A meet with an moray eel during snorkeling is very rare, but this is a dangerous fish for its painful bite. These marine predators prefer primarily the rocky seabeds and dark underwater caves. Their behaviour can be dangerous if they are disturbed, due to their sharp teeth and powerful bite.
The moray eels have long snake-like bodies with quite smooth skin, their colour is varied from brown to mottled. Their size can reach length betwett 1 – 1,5 meters (up to 5 feet), so these animals not as small as most of the fishes in these waters. Moray eels can be agressive when they feel threatened, especially if a diver’s hand or foot comes too close to their hiding spot. Their bite can cause deep wounds and can lead to infection due to bacteria in the eel’s mouth.
When you dive or snorkel in the waters of Kefalonia Island, you should avoid putting your hands or feet into underwater crevices, where moray eels may be hiding. If bitten, clean the wound thoroughly and seek medical attention, as moray eel bites are prone to infection.
Barracuda (Sphyraena spp.)
Barracudas are generally not very dangerous in the Ionian Sea, but these fishes can be intimidating due to their sharp teeth and aggressive appearance. They are fast swimmers and are sometimes curious about divers or shiny objects. These marine animals have a long, slender, silvery body with dark markings and a large mouth filled with sharp, dagger-like teeth. Barracudas of the Ionian Sea can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length!
In the waters of Cephalonia fortunately they are found mostly in open waters, slightly further away from the coastline. Snorkelers meet them rare, but divers who are diving away from the coast, can see them. Barracudas are not typically a threat to humans in the Ionian Sea, but they may mistake shiny objects (such as jewelry or dive gear) for prey, and this sometimes leads to accidental bites. Their bite can cause significant injuries due to their sharp teeth. The best safety tip against barracudas avoid wearing shiny jewelry or accessories while swimming or diving. Keep distance from them, and if approached, remain calm and avoid sudden movements.
Sharks
In the waters of Kefalonia Island there live a few species of sharks as well. Most of these sharks are not bigger than 1 – 1,5 meters and eat small fishes! The bigger sharks which live in Ionian Sea (such as the Great White), primarily live further away from the coasts. In the waters of Kefalonia shark sightings are extremely rare, even the local fishermen meet them or see them very rare. And yes, Great White sharks live in the Ionian Sea, but even a lightning strike is more likely than meeting such a shark. The most species of the sharks which swim in the waters of Kefalonia, are not harmful for human beeings.
As we know, there were no any shark attacks in Kefalonia Island in the last decades, and we don’t find any notes about it. The bigger sharks, which swim in these waters, avoid the coastal areas, so when you dive or snorkel near the island such as in Antisamos or Petani, your chance is very low to meet these marine animals.
Safety Tips for Exploring Kefalonia’s Waters
In the most shallow and rocky areas in Kefalonia Island water shoes can help protect your feet from venomous fishes like weeverfish, scorpionfish and stargazers. It’s very important that avoid touching marine animals, especially if you’re not familiar with them. Even non-venomous fish can bite or scratch if they feel threatened. When you meet fishes, remain calm and avoid sudden movements. Most marine animals of the Ionian Sea are not aggressive and will only act defensively if threatened.
If you follow a few precautions and respect the natural habitat of these marine creatures which can be dangerous sometimes, you can safely enjoy the rich marine life of Kefalonia’s waters!
