It’s the most common question divers ask: What is that fish called? The opportunity to see brilliantly colored tropical fish and other marine creatures in their natural environment is among the chief reasons many of us dive. Yet doing so is nowhere near as fun as it could be if you don’t know:

• The names of the animals you are looking at.
• What makes them unique.
• What relatives they may have in different oceans of the world.

Fortunately, there is no need to remain in the dark. In a short period of time, you can master the names of the most common fish, plus learn fascinating facts about their origin and behavior.

The Fun Part

You’ll find you enjoy your dives, even more, when you recognize the creatures that you see. The fun part about this course is you can use the skills you learn on every scuba diving vacation because once you learn the main fish families and characteristics it will help you decipher the species you see all over the world.

For example, a butterfly fish in the Caribbean has a similar shape to a butterfly fish in Southeast Asia, but their colors and markings may be wildly different. If you know what fish family it belongs to, it becomes much easier to look up the local name or at least be able to intelligently ask the local scuba instructor what you saw. That works better than asking about a “yellow thingy with a funny tail fin.”

Prerequisites
Download the required PADI Medical Form*

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Learn more about Project AWARE Conservation Projects
Buy a fish identification card or book
Take our Underwater Hunter & Collector SDI Course