REDDOG DIVING – KEY LARGO, FLORIDA

Feeding Sharks, Barracuda, Moray Eels, and most everything swimming around the coral reefs.

Doug Cook’s Website for Scuba Diving Adventures

and Underwater Photography

Doug graduated from the University of Michigan in December, 1976 with a BS in Biological Oceanography and a NAUI Scuba Instructor Certificate. Prospects in oceanography were not open with a BS so the lure of warmer climates and coral reefs took him to Key Largo. Doug worked as a scuba instructor and dive shop manager with American Diving Headquarters until he borrowed enough money to buy the boat “Mary Metro” and scuba charter business from the legendary dive guide Steve Klem, “the Pied Piper of Pennekamp”.

FISH FEEDING

JEWFISH

GROUPERS

ANGELS

MORAYS

BARRACUDA

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

Doug was a free lance photo journalist and underwater photography instructor (PUBLICATIONS). His arsenal of photo equipment included four Nikonos cameras, a RolleiMarine housing and RolleiFlex camera, and an ancient Bolex 16mm movie camera and housing. Today life is simple and easy with just a Cannon SD-800 in a WD-PC5 housing: Still and video with automatic focus, exposure, and white balance!

Doug helping a tired traveler.

From 1978 to 1980, Doug and Steve Klem, ‘The Pied Piper of Pennekamp’, worked on a photography project to document Steve’s host of underwater pets. No one lost any fingers!

FISH FEEDING

JEWFISH

GROUPERS

ANGELS

MORAYS

BARRACUDA

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

This is Gertrude, a remarkably friendly yellow jack. While it took handouts of bait to earn her trust, Gertrude genuinely enjoyed the company of people. Doug fondly remembers her joining him when he was snorkeling. Doug floated on his back and Gertrude swam up on his belly for a ride! We were very sad when she disappeared most likely as a victim of a spear fisherman poaching in Pennekamp Park.

Dinner with mixed company

GERTRUDE VIDEO 28 mb

Schooling silverside minnows in a coral cave at North Key Largo Dry Rocks

In the coral cave at North Key Largo Dry Rocks, Steve made friends with this huge and normally shy jewfish (grouper family) that would weigh at least 150 pounds. They can grow to six feet long and weigh up to 600 pounds.

The jewfish was so friendly that it would come out to meet us as soon as we dropped anchor.

We were very sad when he too disappeared most likely as a victim of a spear fisherman poaching in Pennekamp Park.

OTHER PET GROUPERS

Nassau Grouper

Pat Fraser with a pet Black Grouper

Pat Fraser with a pet Black Grouper and a nosy spotted moray.

Note: Do not let the little moray swim up your swim suit! It happened to Doug but the jewels survived.

Another pet Black Grouper.

Steve with the Black Grouper he named Oscar.

FISH FEEDING

JEWFISH

GROUPERS

ANGELS

MORAYS

BARRACUDA

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

Steve with the Black Grouper he named Oscar.

ANGELS BELOW

Elizabeth with a French Angelfish

Steve with a French Angelfish

A pet Queen Angelfish

Steve with a Queen Angelfish and a hogfish

Steve with a Rock Beauty Angelfish

Steve with a pair of Threadfin Butterflyfish

Steve with Grey Angelfish

Steve with Grey Angelfish. During the summer of 1981, there was a massive fish kill that affected mainly angelfish. Their numbers were drastically reduced for years.

The cause was unknown but could be related to red tide or unusually warm water temperatures.

Steve with unusual and shy Scrawled Filefish

FISH FEEDING

JEWFISH

GROUPERS

ANGELS

MORAYS

BARRACUDA

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

Five Scrawled Filefish!

MORAY EELS

Doug with Mo the Green Moray on the City of Washington wreck at the Elbow.

Mo was a favorite pet for over five years.

Note: It is very important to keep the ballyhoo bait hidden in a sock until it is carefully dolled out.

Mo asking for a treat.

Mo asking Doug for a treat.

Doug feeding Mo.

Steve with a Spotted Moray

Moray Eel Feeding Video 31 mb

BARRACUDA

Doug feeding a five foot barracuda at the Elbow. Don’t try this at home.

A barracuda is not a friendly fish and could take your hand off.

Pat Fraser offers his scuba regulator to this ‘cuda.

Barracuda are attracted to shiny objects. Stupid fish!

Doug feeding a ‘cuda. Yes- those teeth are sharp!

The photo flash freezes the barracuda’s lightning fast strike.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!

FISH FEEDING

JEWFISH

GROUPERS

ANGELS

MORAYS

BARRACUDA

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

Doug feeding a ‘cuda. It strikes in a blur of motion.

Barracuda Feeding Video 11 mb

FEEDING BULL SHARKS

Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are considered dangerous and unpredictable. Bull sharks average seven feet in length and 200 pounds but can grow to over ten feet and six hundred pounds. They live in all tropical and subtropical oceans and are known to swim a considerable distance up rivers. They are responsible for more shark attacks on humans than any other species of shark.

Chumming the water with cut-up fish parts brings in the sharks and the ever present

yellow tail snapper seen here in a feeding frenzy.

This shark feeding rodeo was put on for the benefit of renowned underwater photographer Steve Frink. These sharks are NOT used to divers and the routine of being fed as at some commercial dive sites. Once a shark appears it warily zooms back and forth homing in on the scent of bait.