Species database

Marine species in Cayman Islands

45 species divers have recorded here, each verified against the World Register of Marine Species. Log your dives on DIVR to add to the record.

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Commonly seen

18

You have a good chance of spotting these on a typical dive.

Ocean Surgeon (Acanthurus bahianus)common

Acanthurus bahianus

Ocean Surgeon

Fish
Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus)common

Acanthurus coeruleus

Blue Tang

Fish
Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata)common

Acropora palmata

Elkhorn Coral

Corals
Brain Coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis)common

Diploria labyrinthiformis

Brain Coral

Corals
French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)common

Haemulon flavolineatum

French Grunt

Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus)common

Lutjanus apodus

Schoolmaster

Fish
Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa)common

Montastraea cavernosa

Great Star Coral

Corals
Caribbean Star Coral (Orbicella annularis)common

Orbicella annularis

Caribbean Star Coral

Corals
Boulder Star Coral (Orbicella faveolata)common

Orbicella faveolata

Boulder Star Coral

Corals
Bumpy Star Coral (Orbicella franksi)common

Orbicella franksi

Bumpy Star Coral

Corals
Knobby Porous Coral (Porites astreoides)common

Porites astreoides

Knobby Porous Coral

Corals
Clubbed Finger Coral (Porites porites)common

Porites porites

Clubbed Finger Coral

Corals
Brain Coral (Pseudodiploria strigosa)common

Pseudodiploria strigosa

Brain Coral

Corals
Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans)common

Pterois volitans

Red Lionfish

Fish
Princess Parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)common

Scarus taeniopterus

Princess Parrotfish

Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea)common

Siderastrea siderea

Massive Starlet Coral

Corals
Redband Parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum)common

Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Redband Parrotfish

Fish
Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)common

Sparisoma viride

Stoplight Parrotfish

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Cow Pilot (Abudefduf saxatilis)occasional

Abudefduf saxatilis

Cow Pilot

Fish
Blue Bleeder (Aiolochroia crassa)occasional

Aiolochroia crassa

Blue Bleeder

Invertebrates
Candle Sponge (Aplysina fistularis)occasional

Aplysina fistularis

Candle Sponge

Invertebrates
Bar Jack (Caranx ruber)occasional

Caranx ruber

Bar Jack

Fish
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata)occasional

Cephalopholis cruentata

Graysby

Fish
Foureye Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon capistratus)occasional

Chaetodon capistratus

Foureye Butterfly Fish

Fish
Common Sea Fan (Gorgonia ventalina)occasional

Gorgonia ventalina

Common Sea Fan

Invertebrates
Bluestripe Grunt (Haemulon sciurus)occasional

Haemulon sciurus

Bluestripe Grunt

Fish
Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus)occasional

Hypanus americanus

Southern Stingray

Fish
Black Durgon (Melichthys niger)occasional

Melichthys niger

Black Durgon

Fish
Jewelfish (Microspathodon chrysurus)occasional

Microspathodon chrysurus

Jewelfish

Fish
Bermuda Lobster (Panulirus argus)occasional

Panulirus argus

Bermuda Lobster

Invertebrates
Striped Parrotfish (Scarus iseri)occasional

Scarus iseri

Striped Parrotfish

Fish
Bluehead (Thalassoma bifasciatum)occasional

Thalassoma bifasciatum

Bluehead

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Granulated Chiton (Acanthopleura granulata)rare

Acanthopleura granulata

Granulated Chiton

Invertebrates
Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis)rare

Acropora cervicornis

Staghorn Coral

Corals
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites)rare

Agaricia agaricites

Lettuce Coral

Corals
Coney (Cephalopholis fulva)rare

Cephalopholis fulva

Coney

Fish
Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon striatus)rare

Chaetodon striatus

Banded Butterflyfish

Fish
Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans)rare

Colpophyllia natans

Boulder Brain Coral

Corals
Hamlet (Epinephelus striatus)rare

Epinephelus striatus

Hamlet

Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)rare

Holocentrus rufus

Longspine Squirrelfish

Fish
Red Boring Sponge (Ircinia felix)rare

Ircinia felix

Red Boring Sponge

Invertebrates
Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus)rare

Malacoctenus triangulatus

Saddled Blenny

Fish
Cushion Sea Star (Oreaster reticulatus)rare

Oreaster reticulatus

Cushion Sea Star

Invertebrates
French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)rare

Pomacanthus paru

French Angelfish

Fish
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)rare

Sphyraena barracuda

Great Barracuda

Fish