Can snakes survive under water?

A group of divers in Moalboal, Cebu, recently had a close encounter under water with a striped snake about 1-2 m long.

As reported by Kuya Kim on “24 Oras” Friday, swimmers are advised to take precaution due to snakes which they may find under the sea.

Even if snakes don’t have gills like fish, most of them can swim and hold their breath under water for up to one hour. Desert snakes, like ball python, can also swim even if water is not their usual habitat.

However, walo-walo or sea snakes bite only when catching fish. These snakes are rear-fanged, meaning they secrete venom only when they start chewing.

Meanwhile, diver Michael Morales said he and his friends weren’t harmed and they just ignored the sea snake.

“Nag-swim lang po siya paangat. As in timing lang talaga na nagpi-picture,” he said. He advised fellow divers when they see one to “just let it pass through you.”

Herpetologist Arvin Diesmos echoed Morales’ advise. “Being sea snakes, many of them are very territorial,” he said.

Diesmos said swimmers should just let them be because sea snakes were not known to be aggressive creatures. – RC, GMA News