CORNERED

Open water predators regularly drive large, tightly packed schools of tiny fish to the surface where they are more easily pursued. During the frenzies, which often attract an array of opportunistic feeders, predators can become prey. Such was the situation in the Andaman Sea when hunting sailfish found themselves surrounded by a pack of false killer whales. Although sailfish can easily outswim a single pseudorca, pods of the 15-foot whales can corner and eventually wear down a billfish. The whales' patient pursuit requires constant vigilance to remain clear of the preys' lethal harpoons.

Suzanne Forman and a group of fellow snorkelers had no idea that they would witness a confrontation between two of the ocean's most capable predators as their dingy approached a dozen dorsal fins cutting the surface.
 

As the underwater ballet played out, no one realized the danger they faced, even after the bill of the sailfish grazed the dome port of Suzanne's video housing. Only moments later one of the party was harpooned in the thigh and abdomen by the distressed prey. After a lengthy hospital stay the victim made a complete recovery, and continues to dive today.

A California native and Stanford graduate, Suzanne Forman once sold art for a prominent gallery. However, her natural instincts soon took over and she became a dive instructor and moved to Maui. In 1989, she discovered Thailand and the Andaman Sea, where she and future husband Mark Strickland spent eight years working on the live-aboard M/V Fantasea. Taking a leave of absence from the live-aboard scene, Suzy now works full time raising the couple's three-year-old son, Dylan.

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