Swirling fish engage in mesmerizing dance in the Galapagos Islands

These fish are swirling around each other in a mysterious dance and it has caught the attention of a scuba diver in the Galapagos Islands. The cause of this beautiful dance is a mystery as there is nothing in the midst of them that would be considered food. They also do not seem to be concerned about any predators in the area. And there does not seem to be any attempt at mating behaviour.Show more

The Galapagos Islands are home to a rich abundance of marine life that is brought here by three converging ocean currents. The currents collide and create an upwelling that brings nutrients from the depths, attracting plankton and smaller bait fish. This in turn, brings the larger fish such as jacks, hammerhead sharks, and Galapagos sharks. Whale sharks and dolphins also congregate here.

Life in the ocean is a delicate balance with animals being predators one minute and prey the next. This balance can change in an instant and the animals here are always wary and cautious. It is very possible that this behaviour is meant to be confusing to possible predators, or perhaps it is there way of practicing at forming a tight bait ball when the need arises.

Whatever the reason, this scuba diver was fascinated by the mesmerizing sight and captured this on video.