One of the best things about snorkeling is the endless sense of discovery. Just when you think you've seen it all, you come across a fish that's been there all along, you just never noticed it until today. Then, suddenly, you start spotting it on every snorkel. Fish identification is never ending! And if you ever feel like the more you snorkel, the less you know, don't be discouraged. Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates on the planet, so there's always a new name to learn. To help sharpen your fish ID skills, I'm going to introduce you to the four most common families of Indonesian reef fish, explain how to identify them, and sprinkle in a few fun fish facts along the way, because who doesn't love those? Damselfish On my most recent tour, I had the pleasure of introducing a guest to the damselfish family. Once you start noticing them, it's mind-boggling just how many different species there are. In fact, one could argue that without damselfish, the reef would lose a lot of its sparkle. Damselfish are often called the "confetti fish" because they burst out from coral heads like fish-fetti! If approached, they seem to move as one, ducking back into the coral for shelter in a perfectly synchronized flash. These coordinated movements are like underwater fireworks and will leave you mesmerized. If you've ever snorkeled over a tropical reef, I can almost guarantee you've seen a damselfish. They are one of the most common reef fish and can be identified by their oval-shaped, laterally flattened bodies, forked tails, and are almost always found in groups. Most damselfish are between 2 and 15 cm long, although some species can grow up to 30 cm. Color isn't the best way to identify them, as they
One of the best things about snorkeling is the endless sense of discovery. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you come across a fish that’s been there all along, you just never noticed it until today. Then, suddenly, you start spotting it on every snorkel. Fish identification is never ending! And if you
