Species database

Marine species in Maldives

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.

Planning a trip? Browse dive sites in Maldives

Commonly seen

18

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

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon)common

Acanthurus leucosternon

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish

Fish
Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)common

Amphiprion clarkii

Yellowtail Clownfish

Fish
Clownfish (Amphiprion nigripes)common

Amphiprion nigripes

Clownfish

Fish
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)common

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens)common

Balistoides viridescens

Titan Triggerfish

Fish
Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)common

Caranx melampygus

Bluefin Trevally

Fish
Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)common

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Blacktip Reef Shark

Fish
Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)common

Cephalopholis argus

Peacock Grouper

Fish
Melon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus)common

Chaetodon trifasciatus

Melon Butterflyfish

Fish
Giant Moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)common

Gymnothorax javanicus

Giant Moray

Fish
Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi)common

Mobula alfredi

Reef Manta Ray

Fish
Spotted Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris)common

Naso brevirostris

Spotted Unicornfish

Fish
Giant Sleepy Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)common

Nebrius ferrugineus

Giant Sleepy Shark

Fish
Red-Toothed Triggerfish (Odonus niger)common

Odonus niger

Red-Toothed Triggerfish

Fish
Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus)common

Plectorhinchus vittatus

Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips

Fish
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)common

Rhincodon typus

Whale Shark

Fish
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)common

Triaenodon obesus

Whitetip Reef Shark

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)common

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)occasional

Acanthurus lineatus

Lined Surgeonfish

Fish
Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)occasional

Acanthurus triostegus

Convict Surgeonfish

Fish
Ocellated Eagle Ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)occasional

Aetobatus ocellatus

Ocellated Eagle Ray

Fish
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)occasional

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Grey Reef Shark

Fish
Heavybeak Parrotfish (Chlorurus strongylocephalus)occasional

Chlorurus strongylocephalus

Heavybeak Parrotfish

Fish
Lined Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus)occasional

Ctenochaetus striatus

Lined Bristletooth

Fish
Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)occasional

Halichoeres hortulanus

Checkerboard Wrasse

Fish
Brown-and-White Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster)occasional

Hemitaurichthys zoster

Brown-and-White Butterflyfish

Fish
Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)occasional

Paracirrhites forsteri

Blackside Hawkfish

Fish
Sea Goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)occasional

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Sea Goldie

Fish
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)occasional

Pygoplites diacanthus

Regal Angelfish

Fish
White-Banded Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)occasional

Rhinecanthus aculeatus

White-Banded Triggerfish

Fish
Bicolor Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)occasional

Scarus rubroviolaceus

Bicolor Parrotfish

Fish
Six-Banded Wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke)occasional

Thalassoma hardwicke

Six-Banded Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Epaulette Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda)rare

Acanthurus nigricauda

Epaulette Surgeonfish

Fish
Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)rare

Balistoides conspicillum

Clown Triggerfish

Fish
Cross-Stripe Butterfly (Chaetodon auriga)rare

Chaetodon auriga

Cross-Stripe Butterfly

Fish
Blackwedged Butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula)rare

Chaetodon falcula

Blackwedged Butterflyfish

Fish
Yellowhead Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthocephalus)rare

Chaetodon xanthocephalus

Yellowhead Butterflyfish

Fish
Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)rare

Cheilinus undulatus

Humphead Wrasse

Fish
Burnt Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)rare

Chlorurus sordidus

Burnt Parrotfish

Fish
Pincushion Cushionstar (Culcita schmideliana)rare

Culcita schmideliana

Pincushion Cushionstar

Invertebrates
Indian Humbug (Dascyllus abudafur)rare

Dascyllus abudafur

Indian Humbug

Fish
Humpback Snapper (Lutjanus gibbus)rare

Lutjanus gibbus

Humpback Snapper

Fish
Common Bluestripe Snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)rare

Lutjanus kasmira

Common Bluestripe Snapper

Fish
Emperor (Pomacanthus imperator)rare

Pomacanthus imperator

Emperor

Fish
Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii)rare

Zebrasoma desjardinii

Desjardin's Sailfin Tang

Fish