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One of the most fascinating fish on the reef, moray eels come in nearly every size and color from the tiny, bright blue ribbon eel, the smallest averaging only 25 cm long, to the black speckled giant moray which can grow up to 4 meters in length! In fact, there are nearly 200 different species. Most morays are marine dwelling fish, but several species have been seen in brackish water, and just a few are found in fresh water. They are clearly distinguishable from the other reef fish with their long, slithering bodies, pointy snouts full of sharp teeth, and long dorsal fins that run the entire length of their bodies. No matter the species, these animals are always an exciting site to see while scuba diving.

Despite their protruding teeth, menacing grin, and aggressive predatory status, barracuda are actually completely passive towards divers and snorkelers, although passing by a large adult can still be intimidating to the most experienced scuba diver. They are found in tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world, preferring to cruise over coral reefs, seagrass beds, and near the surface of the water, never venturing very deep; therefore, they are commonly sighted while scuba diving.

An octopus has eight arms with suction cups which it uses as powerful tools for hunting prey, defense against attackers, and locomotion along the seafloor. They are one of the most fascinating marine animals on the planet. Every octopus has a designated “arm“ that it favors and uses most often. Because they have no inner skeleton, they are extremely mobile and can slip through the narrowest gaps and holes. Some species can even survive and move on land for a short time. Scuba diving with an octopus is an amazing and rewarding experience.

Seahorse is the generalized name given to 45 of the smallest fish species in the Hippocampus genus. Their name is derived from the distinctive, horse-like shape of their head and neck. They spend most of their time anchored by their tails to coral and plants. Each of their eyes can move independently, giving them the ability to watch for predators and search for food simultaneously. These creatures are incredible, mysterious, intriguing animals. They are also very illusive so keep your eyes open and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to dive with seahorses.

The world’s oceans are home to a wide variety of rays; over 500 different species spanning 13 families to be exact. With their cartilaginous bodies, rays are close cousins of the shark. They do differ, however, in their body shape, number of gill slits, and ways in which they swim and breathe. A ray’s tail is generally very long and skinny, and in many species equipped with a sharp, venomous barb which they use as their main line of defense. This makes it very important for divers who may be shore diving in areas containing stingrays to do the “stingray shuffle” when entering the water: they simply shuffle their feet along the bottom so as to gently push a stingray out of the way instead of stepping right on top of it.

Who has never been overjoyed to see a turtle while snorkeling or diving? These friendly-looking, ancient reptiles are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. Sea turtles can live for up to 100 years and are believed to have been living here on earth for millions of years. Many facts about them are astonishing but probably the most is the fact that female turtles return to the exact beach where they were born, a journey sometimes covering thousands of kilometers, to lay their eggs in shallow nests they dig in the sand with their flippers. This is an incredible achievement and an awe-inspiring thing to watch. Most locations where you can dive with sea turtles are also where you can sneak a peek at this miraculous egg-laying practice that’s as old as time itself.

The second largest group of animals after the phylum Arthropoda, mollusks are a group of soft bodied invertebrates with about 130,000 species worldwide. They encompass an extremely diverse group of creatures including snails, bivalves like mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters, and cephalopods like squids and octopuses, just to name a few! Mollusks can be found in the sea, on land, and in fresh water. Despite common features, each of these groups has its own distinctive characteristics.

One of the most fascinating creatures of the sea, these small but mighty jelly-bodied, shell-less mollusks are part of the sea slug family. Nudibranchs inhabit ocean waters throughout the world, from the Southern Ocean to the Arctic, and everywhere in between. Depending on the species, adult sizes can range from 0.25 to 12 inches. These soft-bodied gastropods derive their name from the Latin word Nudibranchia, meaning naked gills, which is why most have feathery gills and horns on their backs.