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Maldives Fish Identification Chart

My Maldives Fish Snorkeling Chart: Name that Fish!

by | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 | Maldives, Best Snorkeling Maldives

My husband and I have snorkeled all over the world and love planning “snorkations” from Moorea to Bonaire! The Maldives has some of the best snorkeling as long as you pick a resort with an exceptional house reef. Expect to see everything from brightly colored orange clownfish to a 40,000 pound whale shark! Here are 42 examples of fish species we have seen while snorkeling. I hope my Maldives Fish Identification Chart helps you as you discover all the cool sea creatures during your underwater adventures!

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My Maldives Fish Snorkeling Chart

We are snorkelers not divers. All of my photos are from a snorkeler’s perspective. These pictures are from my personal snorkeling experiences at the following resorts:

→   Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort

→   Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa

→   Reethi Faru Resort

I found myself looking fish up after capturing moments with my favorite underwater camera, so I decided to create my own Maldives Fish Chart. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list but rather a highlight of the most common sea life encountered. Here are the 42 fish species we saw during multiple trips to the Maldives:

BLUEFIN TREVALLY

GUINEAFOWL PUFFER

MOORISH IDOL

JUVENILE ORIENTAL SWEETLIP

ORIENTAL SWEETLIPS

BLUE SURGEONFISH

CONVICT SURGEONFISH

BLACKTAIL SURGEONFISH

LINED SURGEONFISH

REDTAIL BUTTERFLYFISH

MEYER’S BUTTERFLYFISH

SADDDLEBACK BUTTERFLYFISH

ORANGELINED TRIGGERFISH

PICASSO TRIGGERFISH

TITAN TRIGGERFISH

HUMPBACK UNICORN

GOATFISH

SCORPIONFISH

BATFISH

PARROTFISH

STONEFISH

BLUESTRIPE SNAPPER

ONESPOT SNAPPER

HUMPBACK RED SNAPPER

CLOWNFISH

CLARK’S ANEMONEFISH

FUSILIER

CHECKERBOARD WRASSE

ROYAL ANGELFISH

EMPEROR ANGELFISH

TRUMPETFISH

PAINTED ROCK LOBSTER

MORAY EEL

OCTOPUS

TURTLE

DOLPHIN

PORCUPINE RAY

EAGLE RAY

STINGRAY

BLACKTIP REEF SHARK

NURSE SHARK

WHALE SHARK

Snorkeling Packing List

To have a great snorkeling experience and capture all the amazing sea life, you need the right gear!

My husband and I have had a lot of practice testing out everything from snorkel masks to fins to snorkel vests. Do not miss my posts below to help you pack for your next Maldives getaway!

Final Thoughts

If you are like me, you pop out of the water, and ask what was that fish?

Then you Google things like “long fish with black spots” or “fish with stripes and little nose.” I hope my personal Maldives Fish Chart helps you in the identification process.

If there are any corrections I need to make, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comment section below. Happy snorkeling!

Sipping on a Selva Cocktail at Selva in Oaxaca scaled

I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.

My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.

Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!

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