Pegasus of the sea

The seamoth is a unique marine species in both looks and behavior. Seamoths belong to the Pegasidae family of fish which derive their name from the Greek animal, Pegasus. They clearly resemble this famous mythological creature thanks to their flattened bodies, long snout, and large, wing-like pectoral fins. In China, these fascinating fish are called dragon fish, and for a good reason.

You can primarily find seamoths along the Indo-Pacific’s tropical coastline. They like to use their modified pelvic fins to “walk“ across the sea floor and hunt using their ventral jaws as tubes to suck worms and other small invertebrates from their burrows. Diving with seamoths can be challenging - their small size and camouflaging abilities can make them hard to see, and their small population size makes them even harder to find. Explore the dive site map below to see where you can dive with seamoths.