Marine species in Costa Rica (Caribbean)
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.
Commonly seen
18You have a good chance of spotting these on a typical dive.
commonAcropora cervicornis
Staghorn Coral
commonAcropora palmata
Elkhorn Coral
commonAgaricia agaricites
Lettuce Coral
commonAgaricia grahamae
Graham's Sheet Coral
commonAgaricia lamarcki
Lamarck’s Sheet Coral
commonColpophyllia natans
Boulder Brain Coral
commonDichocoenia stokesii
Pineapple Coral
commonMadracis decactis
Ten-Ray Star Coral
commonManicina areolata
Common Rose Coral
commonMontastraea cavernosa
Great Star Coral
commonOrbicella annularis
Caribbean Star Coral
commonOrbicella faveolata
Boulder Star Coral
commonPorites astreoides
Knobby Porous Coral
commonPseudodiploria clivosa
Knobbed Brain Coral
commonPseudodiploria strigosa
Brain Coral
commonSiderastrea radians
Lesser Starlet Coral
commonSiderastrea siderea
Massive Starlet Coral
commonStephanocoenia intersepta
Occasionally seen
14Regular residents, but not on every dive.
occasionalAcanthopleura granulata
Granulated Chiton
occasionalAcanthurus bahianus
Ocean Surgeon
occasionalAcanthurus coeruleus
Blue Tang
occasionalBodianus rufus
Spanish Hogfish
occasionalDajaus monticola
Mountain Mullet
occasionalDiploria labyrinthiformis
Brain Coral
occasionalGobiomorus dormitor
Bigmouth Sleeper
occasionalMadracis myriaster
Striate Finger Coral
occasionalMicrospathodon chrysurus
Jewelfish
occasionalMussa angulosa
Large Flower Coral
occasionalOphiomastix wendtii
Red Ophiocoma
occasionalPorites branneri
occasionalSolenastrea bournoni
occasionalSparisoma rubripinne
Redfin Parrotfish
Rare finds
13Lucky encounters worth logging.
rareApogon maculatus
Flamefish
rareCephalopholis cruentata
Graysby
rareCyclograpsus integer
Globose Shore Crab
rareEchinometra lucunter
Rock Urchin
rareEleotris amblyopsis
Largescaled Spinycheek Sleeper
rareEusmilia fastigiata
Flower Coral
rareGymnothorax moringa
Spotted Moray
rareHaemulon macrostomum
Spanish Grunt
rareLutjanus mahogoni
Mahogany Snapper
rareOphiocoma echinata
Blunt-Spined Brittle Star
Ophiocomella pumila
Banded Ophiocoma
rareSparisoma viride
Stoplight Parrotfish
rareThalassoma bifasciatum
Bluehead