European Conger Eel

Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA

Large conger eels have colonised the Dettifoss's holds and engine room, using the steel compartments as permanent dens from which they ambush fish and crustaceans at night. Individuals can reach 1.5 metres and are generally docile when observed during daylight, retreating into shadow as divers approach. Their presence on the wreck is a sign of the healthy invertebrate prey base — especially crabs — that the structure supports.