Sea Snakes

The banded sea snake, also known as a sea krait, is the species most commonly encountered by snorkelers. These amphibious snakes spend roughly half their time on land—digesting food, shedding skin, mating, or laying eggs—and the remainder hunting in shallow coastal waters. A lung that runs nearly the length of their body allows them to remain underwater for up to two hours before surfacing to breathe.

Sea kraits primarily hunt eels and small fish at night, using a powerful neurotoxic venom that is estimated to be around ten times more toxic than rattlesnake venom. Despite this, they are not aggressive to humans and bites are extremely rare. If left untreated, however, a serious bite can be fatal within 4–8 hours. As with most marine life, respectful distance is key—if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.