Chain Moray in Cozumel

Bold yellow chain-link markings over dark brown, and a short blunt jaw with rounded crushing teeth rather than the fangs of a fish-eating moray.

Quick ID

Where You Will See It In Cozumel

Chain Moray works the 3 to 39 foot band. On this island that means the sheltered west-coast reefs, and the shallow east-side entries when the sea is flat — these are the sites where the depth and the habitat line up for it.

Without a boat. It is worth looking for at Chankanaab Shallow, Chen Rio and Coral Princess — all shore entries, so you dive them on your own schedule.

On an ordinary beginner boat dive. It should be within reach at San Clemente, Yellow House, Casa Blanca, Chankanaab Bolones and Columbia Shallows. No advanced certification needed.

Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.

Behaviour

Specialises in crabs, which is why the teeth are blunt. Unusually, it will leave the water briefly to take prey in the intertidal zone.

Commonly Confused With

• Goldentail moray — Fine gold net pattern, not bold chain links, and a longer jaw.
• Spotted moray — Fine dark speckle on cream.

Diving Etiquette And Safety

Hands out of holes. This is a shallow-water species, so it matters as much to snorkellers as to divers.

Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip

Photo: Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.