Common Fishes Seen While Snorkelling in Maldives

The Maldives has over 1,100 species of fish colourfully populating its pristine, warm waters. This is double the number of most other popular dive destinations. This rich biodiversity attracts many divers and snorkellers from around the world.

At Baros Maldives, guests are treated to a world-class house reef plus over 30 nearby dive sites hosting a plethora of exquisite marine life including many of the tropical fishes listed below.

10 fish species you might encounter when snorkelling in the Maldives:

1. Parrotfish

The Bumphead, Rainbow and Green-blotched parrotfish can all be found in the warm waters of the Maldives. Parrotfish are major contributors to reef health and are also responsible for the powdery white sand that is iconic to the Maldives. Using their sharp teeth, fused into a beak shape, they break off chunks of coral, grind it down to extract the nutrient-rich parts, such as algae and soft tissue, and then excrete the non-digestible components as fine white sand.

2. Emperor Angelfish

These beautiful fish are delicately patterned with luminous yellow and blue stripes and have a dark band around their eyes giving them the appearance of small, dashing bandits of the sea.

3. Moorish Idol

Moorish Idols are regal and elegant looking with yellow, white, and black stripes and long filaments that trail gracefully behind them as they swim. It is said that they were given their name by the Moors of Africa, who believed them to bring happiness.

4. Surgeonfish

Two common surgeonfish that can be found in the Maldives are the vibrant Powder Blue Surgeonfish and the stripey Convict Surgeonfish. You will find these eating sideways from coral and stones.

5. Bluestripe Snapper

These ethereal fish are so yellow that they seem to glow underwater. They also have distinctive beady eyes.

6. Napolean Wrasse

This behemoth is known for its broad lips, strong teeth, vibrant colours, and pronounced hump on its forehead (it is also known as a Humphead Wrasse).

7. Redtooth Triggerfish

These triggerfish are usually deep purple with blue-green markings on the head and glowing light blue margins on the fins and tail lobes.

8. Oriental Sweetlips

Oriental Sweetlips are delicately striped fish, with vibrant yellow fins and tails and swollen lips, which give them their name.

9. Violet Soldierfish

Soldierfish are nocturnal hunters feeding on zooplankton. During the day they often congregate close to reefs and in caves. They can often be heard by divers making distinctive pops, grunts and clicks.

10. Fusilier

Slender-bodied fusiliers have a strict diet of only zooplankton and are known to form large schools.

Snorkelling at Baros

In addition to the above tropical fish, the Baros house reef is home to turtles, rays, and harmless blacktip sharks. The house reef is easily accessible to divers and snorkellers, as it starts only a few meters from the Baros shore.

A stay at Baros means you have many magical underwater experiences available to you. One of these is our private snorkelling and fish identification session with our Marine Biologist. The tour begins at the Marine Centre with a 20-minute class covering the different kinds of marine life you are likely to encounter. You will then enjoy a breathtaking, guided snorkel tour of the Baros house reef.

Baros truly has a wealth of underwater riches to share with you. To learn more and to book your underwater adventure, visit https://www.baros.com/underwater-discovery