Banco Chinchorro, located 22 miles (35 kilometers) off the south-eastern coast of the State of Quintana Roo in Mexico, is the largest atoll reef of the northern hemisphere, Biosphere Reserve and temporary residence of a small group of fishermen during lobster season.
Banco Chinchorro is also home to an estimated population of about 500 American Crocodiles (Crocodylus Acutus) that live in a lagoon of the atoll’s central island and that occasionally swim into the open sea nearby the stilt houses of the fishermen. It is right nearby the stilt houses of the fishermen, in shallow waters, where the crocodile encounters take place.
These crocodiles are powerful and highly intelligent predators and each individual has its own personality with well defined characteristics. As shown in the video, when 2 individuals bump into each other, the larger crocodile always prevails and the encounter-clash results in the smaller one retreating.
For those who are wondering why they don’t attack me and instead they let me approach them undisturbed, the answer is simply that they could attack at any moment if they had the opportunity. Although most of these crocodiles surpass us humans in terms of size, sometimes by far, in general they perceive a human adult as “too big” and therefore a less convenient prey compared to the ones that they usually feed on which are significantly smaller in size, such as fish, birds, crustaceans.
That being said though, crocodiles certainly don’t disdain larger prey and may also attack humans should the opportunity arise.
The “safest” way to approach these crocodiles is directly in front of them due to their limited visual range and at their same level or below them in the water column. Straight in front of them because usually when they strike, they snap to the side, they do not lunge forward with a bite. They are highly intelligent animals and they are constantly observing you.
The “safest” way to approach these crocodiles is directly in front of them due to their limited visual range and at their same level or below them in the water column
Their eyes are always following your movements in the water. It happens sometimes that even if they are approached from the front, they slowly but steadily position themselves on your side, ready to take advantage of any possible moment of distraction to assess the attack. Never take your eyes off the crocodile if you swim with them!!
Location: Banco Chinchorro, Quintana Roo, Mexico July 2020
