Triggerfish Attacks Diver in the Azores

We were diving off Pico Island when a triggerfish went for my dive buddy’s nose. He was fine. I had the camera running, which is the only reason this is a post and not just a story we tell at dinner.

Pico Island

Pico has volcanic rock, ridges, and drop-offs. Visibility was good that day. We saw schools of fish, barracuda, and a few octopuses that came in close. It had been a calm dive until we got near a triggerfish that did not want us there.

The bite

Triggerfish can be territorial, especially if you drift into their space. This one started circling closer than usual. We backed off.

Then it went for my dive buddy, who was nearest the reef, and bit him on the nose. Not a serious injury. Enough that we both froze for a second. I already had the camera on it.

Why they do that

The bite was harmless in the end. It is still a useful reminder. Triggerfish look almost cartoonish until they decide you are too close. They are strong, and they are quick. Nesting season makes it worse.

• They guard nests, and they will come at you if you enter that space.
• The name comes from a dorsal spine they can lock, which makes them hard to pull out of a hole.
• They eat sea urchins, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, using strong teeth to break shells.
• If you see one, give it room, and stay above the territory if you can. That zone is often an inverted cone above the nest.

After

We checked the nose. Still there. We finished the reef and laughed about it for the rest of the dive. The video is why anyone else has to believe us.

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Summary:
Pico Island, good visibility, a territorial triggerfish, and a bite on the nose. Give them space, especially in nesting season, and stay above the nest if you can see it.