Don't touch marine life. I know. Thats the rule I have been teaching my dive students for 10 years. But we are experiencing a real change in animals attitudes to humans. Sharks and mantas seeking help with hook removal, net removal, and sometimes they just want to interact. Why? Is it because we are finally changing and they can see that? This fish is a Nassau Grouper. A protected species here in the Bahamas. Their friendliness probably helped with the decline of the species. Sometimes these grouper (& other species of grouper) just wont leave me alone. They will follow me for the entire dive. Stare at me untill I interact with them. Sometimes they sit in the palm of my hands. Its incredible. The grouper accepts me. I accept the grouper and we connect. I will still teach my students not to touch marine life. But if the animal itself seeks out passive human interaction? Well I call that evolving. How anyone can eat grouper I will never understand. The ocean is full of intelligent life. We need to start accepting it. Fish have personality and when you spend so much time under water like I do you really do make some new friends.