Species database

Marine species in South Korea

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.

Yellowtail Sergeant (Abudefduf notatus)common

Abudefduf notatus

Yellowtail Sergeant

Fish
Blackspot Sergeant (Abudefduf sordidus)common

Abudefduf sordidus

Blackspot Sergeant

Fish
Net Coral (Alveopora japonica)common

Alveopora japonica

Net Coral

Corals
Brown-Lined Puffer (Canthigaster rivulata)common

Canthigaster rivulata

Brown-Lined Puffer

Fish
Blue-Striped Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis)common

Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis

Blue-Striped Angelfish

Fish
Smoky Chromis (Chromis fumea)common

Chromis fumea

Smoky Chromis

Fish
Balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus)common

Diodon holocanthus

Balloonfish

Fish
Blackedge Nibbler (Girella leonina)common

Girella leonina

Blackedge Nibbler

Fish
Largescale Blackfish (Girella punctata)common

Girella punctata

Largescale Blackfish

Fish
Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)common

Hemigrapsus sanguineus

Asian Shore Crab

Invertebrates
Rippled Rockskipper (Istiblennius edentulus)common

Istiblennius edentulus

Rippled Rockskipper

Fish
Footballer (Microcanthus strigatus)common

Microcanthus strigatus

Footballer

Fish
Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus)common

Mugil cephalus

Flathead Grey Mullet

Fish
Sea Goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)common

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Sea Goldie

Fish
Cocktail Wrasse (Pteragogus aurigarius)common

Pteragogus aurigarius

Cocktail Wrasse

Fish
Amur Goby (Rhinogobius brunneus)common

Rhinogobius brunneus

Amur Goby

Fish
Mottled Spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens)common

Siganus fuscescens

Mottled Spinefoot

Fish
Dory (Zeus faber)common

Zeus faber

Dory

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina)occasional

Actinia equina

Beadlet Anemone

Invertebrates
White-Caudal Chromis (Chromis albicauda)occasional

Chromis albicauda

White-Caudal Chromis

Fish
Peacock Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus temminckii)occasional

Cirrhilabrus temminckii

Peacock Wrasse

Fish
Crocodile Flathead (Cociella crocodilus)occasional

Cociella crocodilus

Crocodile Flathead

Fish
Striated Hermit Crab (Dardanus arrosor)occasional

Dardanus arrosor

Striated Hermit Crab

Invertebrates
Green-Striped Anemone (Diadumene lineata)occasional

Diadumene lineata

Green-Striped Anemone

Invertebrates
Bubble Tip Sea Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)occasional

Entacmaea quadricolor

Bubble Tip Sea Anemone

Invertebrates
Kelp Grouper (Epinephelus bruneus)occasional

Epinephelus bruneus

Kelp Grouper

Fish
Pore Coral (Montipora efflorescens)occasional

Montipora efflorescens

Pore Coral

Corals
Elegant Blenny (Omobranchus elegans)occasional

Omobranchus elegans

Elegant Blenny

Fish
Little Six-Arm Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)occasional

Ophiactis savignyi

Little Six-Arm Brittle Star

Invertebrates
Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)occasional

Seriola dumerili

Amberjack

Fish
Japanese Sillago (Sillago japonica)occasional

Sillago japonica

Japanese Sillago

Fish
Barracuda (Sphyraena japonica)occasional

Sphyraena japonica

Barracuda

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Banded Sergeant (Abudefduf septemfasciatus)rare

Abudefduf septemfasciatus

Banded Sergeant

Fish
Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)rare

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Brooding Snake Star (Amphipholis squamata)rare

Amphipholis squamata

Brooding Snake Star

Invertebrates
Large-Spotted Sea Hare (Aplysia dactylomela)rare

Aplysia dactylomela

Large-Spotted Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)rare

Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Fish
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)rare

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
rare

Dipturus kwangtungensis

Kwangtung Skate

Fish
Anvil Sea Hare (Dolabella auricularia)rare

Dolabella auricularia

Anvil Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Brassy Chub (Kyphosus vaigiensis)rare

Kyphosus vaigiensis

Brassy Chub

Fish
Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas)rare

Magallana gigas

Pacific Oyster

Invertebrates
Obtuse Barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata)rare

Sphyraena obtusata

Obtuse Barracuda

Fish
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)rare

Stenopus hispidus

Banded Coral Shrimp

Invertebrates
Orange Cup Coral (Tubastraea coccinea)rare

Tubastraea coccinea

Orange Cup Coral

Corals