Making the Oceans a Rainbow of Color With over 20,000 different fish species living in the world’s oceans, saltwater bony fish are the most varied of all marine animals living in the sea. They can range in size from a 2-inch goby to the enormous ocean sun fish (or Mola mola), they can be brilliantly colorful to plain grey, can live solitary lives or school by the thousands, and can live in the shallowest of tropical waters to the coldest, deepest depths of the sea. There is no animal group on earth that can compare to the diversity of bony marine fish. With over 20,000 different fish species living in the world’s oceans, saltwater bony fish are the most varied of all marine animals living in the sea. They can range in size from a 2-inch goby to the enormous ocean sun fish (or Mola mola), they can be brilliantly colorful to plain grey, can live solitary lives or school by the thousands, and can live in the shallowest of tropical waters to the coldest, deepest depths of the sea. There is no animal group on earth that can compare to the diversity of bony marine fish. © iStock-stock_colorsTarponTarpons are impressive, ancient ocean fish and a fun, popular catch amongst saltwater anglers.Learn more © Alamy/BIOSPHOTOOcean SunfishWould you like to see this amazing creatures in person and dive with the ocean sunfish?Learn more © Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_WhittakerGrouper/BassletsLarge-mouthed, heavy-bodied groupers consist of several marine fish species from the family Serranidae.Learn more © Alamy-WaterFrameMoray EelMoray eels are usually seen with their heads poking out from the reef.Learn more © Shutterstock-s_a_jSand EelContrary to its name, the sand eel is not an eel at all but a distinctively slim fish with a pointed snout, giving them the look of an eel.Learn more © iStock-deraugenzeugeSnake EelSnake eels are easily identifiable by their long, snake-like bodies and pointed tail and snout, plus their ability to swim backwards back into their burrows.Learn more © Alamy-Water FrameConger EelThe conger eel, also known as the European conger, is distributed throughout the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is particularly present in the Mediterranean Sea.Learn more © Shutterstock-Greg AmptmanWolf EelThe wolf eel is not an eel at all but one of five “wolffish“ species, having paired gill slits and pectoral fins.Learn more © Shutterstock-Rich CareyAngelfishDiving with angelfish are always a special encounter as divers can often times get quite close.Learn more © Shutterstock_Krzysztof OdziomekButterfly FishButterflyfish are known for swimming in monogamous pairs but can sometimes be seen in large schools.Learn more © Udo KefrigClownfishIf you’re lucky enough dive with clownfishes you could experience these cute little fish attempting to “attack“ you to defend their anemone.Learn more © iStock-Global_PicsBarracudaBarracuda are easily identifiable by their shiny, silvery color, long, snake-like body.Learn more © iStock-HoatzinexpJackfishDiving with trevally is an exciting experience as they offer thrilling encounters due to their large size and swift swimming abilities.Learn more © iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.ScorpionfishScorpionfish are one of the most venomous yet undetectable fish species in the sea.Learn more © iStock/cinobyLionfishLionfish are native to Indo-Pacific waters and are usually found hiding under ledges.Learn more © istock-ateseFrogfishPart of the anglerfish family, the unique frogfish could probably be voted one of the strangest-looking fish in the sea.Learn more © iStock-Rainer von BrandisSnapperSnappers are a popular food fish commonly seen trolling coral reefs and a favorite sighting amongst scuba divers.Learn more © iStock-mireccaSurgeonfishThe beautiful and abundant surgeonfish encompasses about 75 species of reef-dwellers, commonly called tangs, unicornfish, and doctorfish.Learn more © Shutterstock-aquapixSweetlips and GruntsDepending on where you are, diving with sweetlips or grunts is guaranteed throughout the coral reefs of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans.Learn more © iStock-burnsboxcoParrotfishWith around 80 different species, the parrotfish comes in almost every color of the rainbow.Learn more © iStock-Global_PicsSoldierfishSoldierfish are a common sighting amongst divers visiting tropical and subtropical locations and are typically seen swimming in tightly organized schools that mLearn more © iStock-wrangelTriggerfishThe ornately patterned triggerfish are common to the subtropical and tropical regions of the world’s oceans, with the highest species diversityLearn more © iStock/ultramarinfotoWrasseIt’s an amazing experience to dive with the enormous Napoleon wrasse.Learn more © Alamy-Andre SealDamselfishHighly territorial, you will typically see damselfish aggressively guarding their small area of the reef from other fish and even divers who approach too close.Learn more © Shutterstock-Levent KonukGoatfishAptly named for the two large “whiskers,“ or barbels, protruding from their chin area, goatfish are famous for these two chemosensory organs they use to hunt foLearn more © Shutterstock-Al McGlashanTunaTuna are the sea’s mightiest swimmers and one of its most agile predators, with a sleek, streamlined, torpedo-shaped body built for speed.Learn more © Shutterstock-Hans Gert BroederGarfishThe saltwater garfish, also commonly known as garpike or needlefish, is found in temperate and tropical brackish and marine waters.Learn more © iStock-stephankerkhofsPorcupinefishNot to be confused with its smaller cousin, the pufferfish, you can distinguish porcupinefish by their elongated bodies and large eyes.Learn more © AdobeStock-JirinaVFRPufferfishDiving with puffer fish is very enjoyable as they are quite cute.Learn more © AdobeStock_Vladimir WrangelBoxfishBoxfish, also commonly known as cowfish or trunkfish, include 23 species of square, bony fish in the Ostraciidae family.Learn more © AdobeStock_cherylvbGaribaldi DamselfishGaribaldi are clearly distinguishable by their bright orange bodies, heart-shaped tail fins, and crystal-blue eyes.Learn more © Shutterstock_Leo LorenzoTrumpetfishTrumpetfish are classic residents of the coral reef and are clearly recognizable by their tubular, skinny bodies, long snout, and wide mouth.Learn more © Alamy-Reinhard DirscherlBannerfishBannerfish are one of the most commonly seen fish amongst the Pacific reef community.Learn more © AdobeStock-Composer.FlounderFlounder are unusually shaped fish that look like a flattened oval where the dorsal and anal fins run along the entire length of the body.Learn more © iStock-bearacreativeEmperorThere are roughly 39 different species of emperor fish throughout the Indo-Pacific region, belonging to the Lethrinidae family.Learn more © iStock-ateseRibbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)Also known as the leaf-nosed moray eel or bernis eel, ribbon eels are recognizable by their long, thin bodies, high dorsal fin, and extended anterior nostrLearn more © Alamy-Water FramePanther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)The ornately colored dragon moray eel, also known as the leopard or panther eel, is one of the most beautiful eels in the moray family.Learn more © SSI-Peter-SchinckSeamothThe seamoth is a unique marine species in both looks and behavior.Learn more © SSI-Peter-SchinckLeaf ScorpionfishThe exotic leaf scorpionfish is a clearly recognizable marine ray-finned fish from the Scorpaenidae family.Learn more