Species database

Marine species in Ireland

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.

Common Sea Star (Asterias rubens)common

Asterias rubens

Common Sea Star

Invertebrates
Common Dragonet (Callionymus lyra)common

Callionymus lyra

Common Dragonet

Fish
Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus)common

Cancer pagurus

Edible Crab

Invertebrates
Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)common

Clupea harengus

Atlantic Herring

Fish
common

Dipturus intermedius

Flapper Skate

Fish
Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus)common

Halichoerus grypus

Gray Seal

Mammals
Common Dab (Limanda limanda)common

Limanda limanda

Common Dab

Fish
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)common

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Haddock

Fish
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)common

Merlangius merlangus

Whiting

Fish
European Hake (Merluccius merluccius)common

Merluccius merluccius

European Hake

Fish
Lemon Sole (Microstomus kitt)common

Microstomus kitt

Lemon Sole

Fish
Devil Crab (Necora puber)common

Necora puber

Devil Crab

Invertebrates
Dublin Bay Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)common

Nephrops norvegicus

Dublin Bay Lobster

Invertebrates
European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)common

Pleuronectes platessa

European Plaice

Fish
Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula)common

Scyliorhinus canicula

Dogfish

Fish
Picked Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)common

Squalus acanthias

Picked Dogfish

Fish
Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)common

Trachurus trachurus

Atlantic Horse Mackerel

Fish
common

Trisopterus minutus

Cepelan

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina)occasional

Actinia equina

Beadlet Anemone

Invertebrates
Dead Man's Fingers (Alcyonium digitatum)occasional

Alcyonium digitatum

Dead Man's Fingers

Invertebrates
European Common Squid (Alloteuthis subulata)occasional

Alloteuthis subulata

European Common Squid

Invertebrates
Common Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas)occasional

Carcinus maenas

Common Shore Crab

Invertebrates
Boring Sponge (Cliona celata)occasional

Cliona celata

Boring Sponge

Invertebrates
Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)occasional

Gadus morhua

Atlantic Cod

Fish
Ballan Wrasse (Labrus bergylta)occasional

Labrus bergylta

Ballan Wrasse

Fish
Spiny Starfish (Marthasterias glacialis)occasional

Marthasterias glacialis

Spiny Starfish

Invertebrates
Bernhard's Hermit Crab (Pagurus bernhardus)occasional

Pagurus bernhardus

Bernhard's Hermit Crab

Invertebrates
Green Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)occasional

Pollachius pollachius

Green Pollack

Fish
Roker (Raja clavata)occasional

Raja clavata

Roker

Fish
occasional

Solea solea

Common Sole

Fish
Dahlia Anemone (Urticina felina)occasional

Urticina felina

Dahlia Anemone

Invertebrates
Dory (Zeus faber)occasional

Zeus faber

Dory

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Armed Bullhead (Agonus cataphractus)rare

Agonus cataphractus

Armed Bullhead

Fish
Opelet Anemone (Anemonia viridis)rare

Anemonia viridis

Opelet Anemone

Invertebrates
Golden Star Tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri)rare

Botryllus schlosseri

Golden Star Tunicate

Invertebrates
Solenette (Buglossidium luteum)rare

Buglossidium luteum

Solenette

Fish
Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)rare

Cetorhinus maximus

Basking Shark

Fish
Light Bulb Tunicate (Clavelina lepadiformis)rare

Clavelina lepadiformis

Light Bulb Tunicate

Invertebrates
Conger (Conger conger)rare

Conger conger

Conger

Fish
Elegant Anemone (Cylista elegans)rare

Cylista elegans

Elegant Anemone

Invertebrates
Cotton Spinner (Holothuria forskali)rare

Holothuria forskali

Cotton Spinner

Invertebrates
Common Lobster (Homarus gammarus)rare

Homarus gammarus

Common Lobster

Invertebrates
Cuckoo Wrasse (Labrus mixtus)rare

Labrus mixtus

Cuckoo Wrasse

Fish
Seven Armed Sea Star (Luidia ciliaris)rare

Luidia ciliaris

Seven Armed Sea Star

Invertebrates
Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)rare

Lutra lutra

Eurasian Otter

Mammals