With their bright colors and spectacular patterns, angelfish are the jewels of the coral reef. Colorful, elegant, and sometimes inquisitive, you will never tire of watching and photographing them. Over 80 species of angelfish populate the warm waters of the planet, most species radically changing in appearance between the juvenile and adult stages. Check out our top 10 snorkeling spots to see angelfish!
The crystal-clear waters of West Bay host several species of angelfish. While exploring its spectacular drop-off, you will easily come across gray angelfish, French angelfish, and the superb Queen angelfish, the star of the Caribbean reefs. Angelfish are found on many spots in Roatán; you can also try to spot them in West End.
With its reef flat covered with seagrass and its stunning reef drop-off full of coral, Wakatobi Resort’s house reef is a top snorkeling spot. Here, at the heart of Wakatobi National Park, you’ll encounter several species of angelfish, including the emperor angelfish, the regal angelfish and the majestic angelfish.
The yellowbar angelfish, Pomacanthus maculosus, is certainly one of the most beautiful fish of the Red Sea. With its purple-blue body and a yellow vertical blotch on its sides, it rarely goes unnoticed! To spot it, as well as the regal angelfish and the emperor angelfish, head to Ras Um Sid‘s reef drop-off off, in Sharm el-Sheikh.
The sixbar angelfish, Pomacanthus sexstriatus, is the most common angelfish in the Great Barrier Reef area. It is particularly abundant in Green Island, one of the most accessible snorkeling spots from Cairns.
Several species of angelfish, among the most beautiful in the world, live around Velidhu Island. The most common species at this spot are the regal angelfish, the emperor angelfish, and the blueface angelfish, and it is not uncommon to observe all of them during a single snorkeling session.
Caneel Bay Resort, on the west coast of St John, has several beaches and bays suitable for snorkeling. It offers different marine ecosystems to explore, including coral reefs, rocky overhangs and seagrass beds. This diversity of environments allows snorkelers to spot a large diversity of marine species, including French angelfish, gray angelfish and Queen angelfish.
Baie Lazare reef, in Mahé, is full of angelfish. If the semicircle angelfish is the most abundant, you may also encounter at this location emperor angelfish and threespot angelfish, which is easy to identify with its blue lips.
Usually, angelfish are seen alone or by pairs on the reef. Kicker Rock, a jagged rock towering above San Cristóbal Island’s northern coast, is home to a wonderful scene: there, King angelfish are schooling by dozens in the most sheltered areas.
Boca Catalina has everything snorkelers could wish for: a pristine sea, nice shallow coral reefs, green sea turtles… and inquisitive French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) “greeting” snorkelers visiting their territory.
At a short distance from Mayotte, Ilots Choizil are a true tropical paradise. Underwater, you will encounter colorful emperor angelfish and regal angelfish. These species are found at many spots in Mayotte, particularly at Ilot de Sable Blanc du Nord and N’Gouja.
Fascinated by angelfish? ➡ Check out our angelfish species online identification guide ➡ Discover our selection of fish ID books
This top10 has been selected only from the +380 locations already on our map. If you know a snorkeling spot that is not yet on the map, send us your report and it may be selected to appear on this page!
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