Species Guide

Marine Life Database

Identify what you saw on your last dive or plan what to look for next. 50 Caribbean species with encounter frequencies, depth ranges, and island-by-island distribution.

50+Species Profiled
8Categories
12Islands Covered

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Sharks & Rays

10
Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Caribbean Reef Shark

Carcharhinus perezi

Max 3m·1–30m·Year-round

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Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Max 4.3m·1–12m·Year-round

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Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Max 5.5m·3–350m·Year-round (peak Nov–Apr)

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Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Great Hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran

Max 6.1m·1–80m·Dec–Apr

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Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

Max 12m·0–40m·Mar–Jun

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Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) underwater Caribbean
Common

Silky Shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

Max 3.5m·0–500m·Nov–Apr

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Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Max 3.4m·1–150m·Nov–Apr

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Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Southern Stingray

Hypanus americanus

Max 1.5m disc·1–53m·Year-round

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Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) underwater Caribbean
Common

Spotted Eagle Ray

Aetobatus narinari

Max 3.3m disc·1–80m·Year-round

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Atlantic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) underwater Caribbean
Common

Atlantic Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

Max 7m disc·0–40m·Dec–May

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Sea Turtles

3
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Max 1.5m·0–40m·Year-round

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Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) underwater Caribbean
Common

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Max 1m·1–30m·Year-round

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Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

Max 1.2m·0–200m·May–Oct

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Reef Fish

13
Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) underwater Caribbean
Common

Nassau Grouper

Epinephelus striatus

Max 1.2m·1–130m·Year-round

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Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Max 2.5m·0–30m·Year-round

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Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Max 1.8m·0–100m·Year-round

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Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) underwater Caribbean
Common

Queen Angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Max 45cm·2–70m·Year-round

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French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

French Angelfish

Pomacanthus paru

Max 41cm·2–100m·Year-round

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Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Stoplight Parrotfish

Sparisoma viride

Max 64cm·1–25m·Year-round

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Lionfish (Pterois volitans) underwater Caribbean
Common

Lionfish

Pterois volitans

Max 38cm·1–300m·Year-round

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Spotted Drum (Equetus punctatus) underwater Caribbean
Common

Spotted Drum

Equetus punctatus

Max 27cm·3–30m·Year-round

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Splendid Toadfish (Sanopus splendidus) underwater Caribbean
Common

Splendid Toadfish

Sanopus splendidus

Max 20cm·3–30m·Year-round

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Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Trumpetfish

Aulostomus maculatus

Max 80cm·1–25m·Year-round

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Yellowtail Snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Yellowtail Snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus

Max 86cm·0–70m·Year-round

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Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Blue Tang

Acanthurus coeruleus

Max 39cm·2–40m·Year-round

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Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Max 1.2m·0–30m·Year-round

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Eels & Serpents

4
Green Moray Eel (Gymnothorax funebris) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Green Moray Eel

Gymnothorax funebris

Max 2.5m·1–30m·Year-round

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Spotted Moray (Gymnothorax moringa) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Spotted Moray

Gymnothorax moringa

Max 1.2m·0–200m·Year-round

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Goldentail Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris) underwater Caribbean
Common

Goldentail Moray

Gymnothorax miliaris

Max 60cm·1–60m·Year-round

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Sharptail Eel (Myrichthys breviceps) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Sharptail Eel

Myrichthys breviceps

Max 1m·1–30m·Year-round

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Invertebrates

8
Flamingo Tongue Snail (Cyphoma gibbosum) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Flamingo Tongue Snail

Cyphoma gibbosum

Max 3.5cm·1–30m·Year-round

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Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

Panulirus argus

Max 60cm·1–90m·Year-round

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Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Christmas Tree Worm

Spirobranchus giganteus

Max 4cm crown·1–30m·Year-round

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Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) underwater Caribbean
Common

Banded Coral Shrimp

Stenopus hispidus

Max 6cm·1–40m·Year-round

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Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) underwater Caribbean
Common

Arrow Crab

Stenorhynchus seticornis

Max 6cm span·1–40m·Year-round

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Pederson Cleaner Shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) underwater Caribbean
Common

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp

Ancylomenes pedersoni

Max 2cm·1–20m·Year-round

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Magnificent Feather Duster (Sabellastarte magnifica) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Magnificent Feather Duster

Sabellastarte magnifica

Max 15cm crown·1–30m·Year-round

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Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Brain Coral

Colpophyllia natans

Max 3m+ colony·1–50m·Year-round

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Cetaceans & Sirenians

3
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Max 16m·0–200m·Jan–Mar

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Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Max 4m·0–600m·Year-round

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West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

Max 4m·0–10m·Year-round

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Macro Life

6
Longsnout Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) underwater Caribbean
Common

Longsnout Seahorse

Hippocampus reidi

Max 17cm·1–55m·Year-round

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Longlure Frogfish (Antennarius multiocellatus) underwater Caribbean
Common

Longlure Frogfish

Antennarius multiocellatus

Max 14cm·1–70m·Year-round

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Lettuce Sea Slug (Elysia crispata) underwater Caribbean
Common

Lettuce Sea Slug

Elysia crispata

Max 5cm·1–20m·Year-round

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Roughhead Blenny (Acanthemblemaria aspera) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Roughhead Blenny

Acanthemblemaria aspera

Max 4cm·1–15m·Year-round

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Cleaning Goby (Elacatinus genie) underwater Caribbean
Very Common

Cleaning Goby

Elacatinus genie

Max 4cm·1–40m·Year-round

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Flying Gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Flying Gurnard

Dactylopterus volitans

Max 50cm·1–100m·Year-round

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Pelagics

3
Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen) underwater Caribbean
Occasional

Ocean Triggerfish

Canthidermis sufflamen

Max 65cm·0–100m·Year-round

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Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) underwater Caribbean
Rare

Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Max 2.1m·0–85m·Year-round

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Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) underwater Caribbean
Rare

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

Max 4m·0–150m·Year-round

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Dive Destinations

See Marine Life by Island

Each Caribbean island has its own signature species. Explore dive site profiles, conditions, and vetted operators for every destination.