COMMON SPECIES
Horn Sharks, Leopard Sharks, Sevengill Sharks
RARE SPECIES
Swell Sharks, Tope Sharks, Smooth-Hound Sharks
VERY RARE SPECIES
Great White Sharks, Blue Sharks, Mako Sharks, Thresher Sharks
WHEN TO ENCOUNTER
Year-round, season-specific
HOW TO ENCOUNTER
Scuba diving, snorkeling, wildlife watching expeditions
GREAT WHITE CAGE DIVING
No cage diving in San Diego, but multi-day trips to Guadalupe Islands in Mexico leaving from San Diego
Fishes
Our waters are full of sharks, but not in the way most people think. The majority of San Diego shark diving is done with small, bottom dwelling, and much less intimidating local species than your average Shark Week stereotype.
Garibaldi
Scientific Name: Hypsypops rubicundus
Family: Pomacentridae
Size: Length to 14 inches (36 cm)
Garibaldi are the marine state fish of California and the largest species of damselfish in the world. The common name is a reference to the Italian military and political figure Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose followers often wore a characteristic scarlet or red shirt. Males will protect their nest in spring and early summer with bulldog-like aggression willingly attacking animals (and divers) much larger than they are. Juveniles are covered with bright blue iridescent spots which disappear with age.
Jack Mackerel
Scientific Name: Trachurus symmetricus
Family: Carangidae
Size: Length to 32 inches (81 cm)
A silver, schooling fish of a medium size that you will see most often in open water on your safety stop. Will occasionally drop down onto the reef in search of food.
Kelp Bass
Scientific Name: Paralabrax clatharus
Family: Serranidae
Size: Length to 30 inches (75 cm)
The Kelp Bass is the most often seen seabass that you will undoubtedly see on every dive in Southern California. Usually hovering over the reef or up in the water column in pairs or small unpolarized schools. Identified from other seabass by the white blotches down the length of its upper body. Sometimes called Calico Bass.
Barred Sand Bass
Scientific Name: Paralabrax nebulifer
Family: Serranidae
Size: Length to 25.5 inches (65 cm)
The Barred Sand Bass is the second most often seen seabass will be observed over sand in both shallow and deep water. Similar in look and habitat to the Spotted Sand Bass. All species of seabass have a pointed pupil in their eye shaped somewhat like a watermelon seed.
Cabazon
Scientific Name: Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Family: Scorpaenichthyidae
Size: Length to 3 feet (1 m)
This large sculpin is often mistaken for a scorpionfish but can be differentiated by the two large cirri (antennae-like structures) on the top of its head and a smaller one on its nose. Like many cryptic ambush predators, it is easy to miss.
Ocean Whitefish
Scientific Name: Caulolatilus princeps
Family: Malacanthidae
Size: Length to 40 inches (1 m)
The Ocean Whitefish is the only species of tilefish on the west coast of the United States. It has a continuous dorsal fin unlike other similar fish. Usually solitary and found swimming a few feet over the bottom.
Olive Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes serranoides
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 24 inches (61 cm)
The Olive Rockfish has a series of olive shaped spots on its back. Usually up in the water column over reefs and wrecks in small polarized schools.
Calico Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes dalli
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 10 inches (25 cm)
This smaller rockfish is usually found by itself hovering just over the bottom near structures such as wrecks or rock outcroppings. Can be identified by its wide diagonal brown body bars.
Gopher Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes carnatus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 15.5 inches (40 cm)
The Gopher Rockfish is very similar in pattern to the Black & Yellow Rockfish but is tan and white in color instead of yellow and black. Differs from the Copper Rockfish as the white stripe down its back is broken up and not continuous. Spends most of its time resting on the bottom.
Halfbanded Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes semicinctus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 10 inches (25 cm)
The Halfbanded Rockfish has two diamond shaped, dark bars on each side, one midbody and one near the hind end. Juveniles are seen most often as adults usually live below recreational dive limits.
China Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes nebulosus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 18 inches (46 cm)
Unlike the similar Black & Yellow Rockfish, whose markings are broken up, the yellow stripe on the China is unbroken and runs, like a check mark from the front dorsal spines to along the lateral line, down the side of the fish toward the tail.
Brown Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes auriculastus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 21.5 inches (55 cm)
All rockfish in the genus Sebastes are a type of scorpionfish who’s dorsal (top) fin spines contain venom. That being said, all species tend to be quite docile. Punctures tend to happen when handling the fish after it is caught on a hook and line. The Brown Rockfish will usually be found, hovering over or on the bottom of rocky, silty areas such as the canyon off La Jolla Shores. They can be identified by the dark spot on the upper part of their gill covers.
Vermillion Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes miniatus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 30 inches (76 cm)
A bright red rockfish often found inside ship wrecks and caves.
Blue Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes mystinus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 21 inches (53 cm)
The Blue Rockfish can be found in the water column over reefs, wrecks and in kelp. Usually in schools of some size feeding on pelagic animals and plankton. Juveniles have the same markings but are purplish-red in color.
Copper Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes caurinus
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 22.5 inches (57 cm)
The Copper Rockfish is seen in both rocky and sandy habitat as well as floating up in the kelp. Can be distinguished from the slightly plainer Gopher Rockfish by the white “copper pipe”-like stripe along its flank.
Kelp Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes atrovirens
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 17 inches (42 cm)
The eyes of the Kelp Rockfish seem larger than other rockfish making it look a bit dim (Kelp needs help). It has indistinct yellowish and brown mottling over its entire body. Usually found resting down in the reef.
Blackeye Goby
Scientific Name: Coryphopterus nicholsii
Family: Gobiidae
Size: Length to 6 inches (15 cm)
All gobies have a long dorsal (top) fin that runs the length of their back that has a break usually about half way down that you can “goby-tween”. Will allow a fairly close approach before disappearing into a burrow or crevice in the reef. Seen on most dives in all habitats.
Bluebanded Goby
Scientific Name: Lythrypnus dalli
Family: Gobiidae
Size: Length to 2.5 inches (65 mm)
The Bluebanded Goby is the most common goby and one of the most evident fish on a dive depending on habitat. Prefer sandy/silty areas of rock, where they will be found in great abundance but will inhabit rocky kelp reef areas as well.
Zebra Goby
Scientific Name: Lythrypnus zebra
Family: Gobiidae
Size: Length to 2.2 inches (6 cm)
The Zebra Gobi is much shyer than the much more abundant Bluebanded Goby it will flit away into a crevice as soon as it is observed.
Blacksmith
Scientific Name: Chromis punctipinnis
Family: Pomacentridae
Size: Length to 12 inches (30 cm)
The Blacksmith is a type of damselfish that you will find in great abundance in large schools up in the water column above the reef feeding on plankton. You can tell it from other similar fish by the black dots over its hind end. Can have a line through the eye (not always visible), juveniles have a yellow tail.
California Lizardfish
Scientific Name: Synodus lucioceps
Family: Synodontidae
Size: Length to 25 inches (64 cm)
The only lizardfish on the western coast of the United States. An ambush predator that is found on or under the sand with only its eyes protruding. Will disappear under the sand instantly when disturbed.
Speckled Sanddab
Scientific Name: Citharichthys stigmaeus
Family: Paralichthyidae
Size: Length to 6.75 inches (17 cm)
The Speckled Sanddab is the most common flatfish in the area. Seen on and under the sand with only eyes exposed. Will disappear instantly when disturbed.
California Scorpionfish
Scientific Name: Scorpaenas guttata
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 17 inches (43cm)
The California Scorpionfish is a master of camouflage and is often completely unseen even when your dive buddy is pointing right at it. Another good reason to keep your hands off the reef! Like the rockfish its dorsal (top) fin spines (and pectoral) contain venom but they are equally docile if left undisturbed.
Rainbow Scorpionfish
Scientific Name: Scorpaenodes xyris
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 6 inches (15 cm)
The Rainbow Scorpionfish is a small scorpionfish with a dark black spot on each cheek. Usually found upside down under ledges at the bottom. Cryptic and rarely seen.
California Sheephead
Scientific Name: Semicossyphus pulcher
Family: Labridae
Size: Length to 3 ft (91 cm)
Sheephead are a type of wrasse. Wrasse have three distinct phases: juvenile, female and male. Males guard a harem or group of smaller females. If the male is removed from the group, the lead female metamorphosizes into a male in a short period of time. This is called being selectively hermaphroditic. Sheephead have large teeth for cracking and crushing sea urchins, mollusks and crustaceans.
Bluebanded Ronquil
Scientific Name: Rathbunnella hypoplecta
Family: Bathymasteridae
Size: Length to 11 inches (28 cm)
The Bluebanded Ronquil is the only ronquil in southern California. Could be confused with the Island Kelpfish but differs in that it has distinct white body bars and no cirri (antennae-like structures) on its head.
Giant Kelpfish
Scientific Name: Heterostichus rostratus
Family: Clinidae
Size: Length to 24 inches (61 cm)
While not large, the Giant Kelpfish is the largest of the kelpfish in our area and the only one to have a forked tail. Often missed due to its ability to camouflage itself well in amongst the kelp fronds.
Island Kelpfish
Scientific Name: Alloclinus holderi
Family: Labrisomidae
Size: Length to 4 inches (10 cm)
The Island Kelpfish is the most common kelpfish in our area and is found resting on exposed ledges and on rocks. Has a very long pectoral fin that extends the length of the body and two small cirri over each eye and on its nose.
Treefish
Scientific Name: Sebastes serriceps
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 16 inches (41 cm)
This oddly marked rockfish with its wide yellow and black stripes and large clown red lips is fairly common to our area and will be seen on most dives in rocky areas.
Rock Wrasse
Scientific Name: Halichoeres semicinctus
Family: Labridae
Size: Length to 15 inches (38 mm)
Like all wrasse, female Rock Wrasse can transform to males as necessary. Males wear a “black belt” over a yellow spot. Female has small spots overall. Wrasse are on a constant search for food and in constant motion swimming with their pectoral fins. Adults have red eyes. Seen mostly over grass beds and some kelp reef habitats.
Opaleye
Scientific Name: Girella nigricans
Family: Kyphosidae
Size: Length to 26 inches (66 cm)
Opaleye are a type of sea chub with a large white spot on either side of its back and blue opal-like eyes. Seen on most dives and in most habitats.
Halfmoon
Scientific Name: Medialuna californiensis
Family: Kyphosidae
Size: Length to 19 inches (48 cm)
A sea chub that can be identified by the dark spot at the top of its gill cover and its lunate (moon-shaped) tail. Solitary and seen over the reef.
Sarcastic Fringehead
Scientific Name: Neoclinus blanchardi
Family: Chaenopsidae
Size: Length to 12 inches (30 cm)
Living in burrows in silty rock reefs, divers usually only get to see their head, which has two small cirri (antennae-like structures) over each eye. If you are lucky enough to see the fish out and about, it has two ocellated spots on its dorsal fin. Males have epic battles for territory by rushing each other with open mouths, which can fold out to three times their normal size.
Yellowfin Fringehead
Scientific Name: Neoclinus stephensae
Family: Chaenopsidae
Size: Length to 4 inches (10 cm)
Like most fringehead you will likely not see more than its face sticking out of its hiding place. Much smaller than its cousin the Sarcastic and on/in rock rather than sand habitats. Has branched cirri (antennae-like structures) on its head.
Sculpin
Scientific Name: Artedius, sp.
Family: Cottidae
Size: Length to 5.5 inches (14 cm)
There are dozens of species of sculpin, many local to our area. They are masters of camouflage often going completely unobserved unless they happen to move as you swim by. The different species are very hard to tell apart as physical differences are minor, and colors can be highly variable and adapted to the habitat they are resting on.
Señorita
Scientific Name: Oxyjulis californica
Family: Labridae
Size: Length to 10 inches (25 cm)
These wrasse travel in schools where they feed up in the water column. Solitary fish may be seen closer to the reef picking parasites off other schooling fish. The black spot on their upper tail differentiate them from the larger Rock Wrasse.
Striped Surfperch
Scientific Name: Embiotoca lateralis
Family: Embiotocidae
Size: Length to 15 inches (38 mm)
Similar to other surfperch, of its size, except for the distinct stripes covering the body and the smaller lips.
Pile Perch
Scientific Name: Damalichthys vacca
Family: Embiotocidae
Size: Length to 17.5 inches (44 cm)
The Pile Perch has a distinctive black bar on its side that looks like a “dock piling”. Usually solitary or in small unpolarized schools.
Black Surfperch
Scientific Name: Embiotoca jacksoni
Family: Embiotocidae
Size: Length to 16 inches (40 cm)
The Black Surfperch is a common surfperch to our area. The body bars can be apparent or not. Usually solitary and hovering over the bottom or off a wreck or reef.
Kelp Surfperch
Scientific Name: Brachyistius frenatus
Family: Embiotocidae
Size: Length to 8.5 inches (22cm)
The Kelp Surfperch is a small perch lacking any district body markings. It's body is more triangular and has a nose that is more pointed than most perch. Usually solitary or in pairs up in the mid to high part of the kelp stalk.
Rubberlip Surfperch
Scientific Name: Sebastes semicinctus
Family: Embiotocidae
Size: Length to 18.5 inches (47 cm)
The Rubberlip Surfperch is larger but very similar to the Pile Surfperch but with very large lips and the dark bar on its back tends to be more diffuse, often barely observable.
Zebra Perch
Scientific Name: Hermosilla azurea
Family: Kyphosidae
Size: Length to 7.5 inches (44cm)
The Zebra Perch is a sea chub that is found in and among sea grass beds usually in small unpolarized schools.
Bay Pipefish
Scientific Name: Syngnathus leptorhynchus
Family: Syngnathidae
Size: Length to 13 inches (33 cm)
Related to the seahorse, the Bay Pipefish is the most common pipefish in our area. Very cryptic, found in or near sea grass beds.
Black & Yellow Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes chrysomelas
Family: Scorpaenidae
Size: Length to 15.25 inches (39 cm)
Black & Yellow Rockfish are very similar in pattern to the Gopher Rockfish but are yellow and black in color instead of tan and white. Spends most of its time resting on the bottom.
Spotted Sand Bass
Scientific Name: Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
Family: Serranidae
Size: Length to 22 inches (56 cm)
The Spotted Sand Bass has black spots on the upper body. Solitary and found resting in sand.
Sargo
Scientific Name: Sebastes semicinctus
Family: Sparidae
Size: Length to 23 inches (58 cm)
The Sargo is a schooling species of grunt that could be confused for a couple different surfperch species except the black bar on the Sargo is mid-body not on the hind end.
Salema
Scientific Name: Xenistius californiensis
Family: Sparidae
Size: Length to 10 inches (25 cm)
The Salema is a member of the grunt family distinguished by large eyes and six to eight horizontal stripes. Usually found schooling in inlets and other sandy, shallow protected areas.
Pacific Seahorse
Scientific Name: Hippocampus ingens
Family: Syngnathidae
Size: Length to 1 ft (31 cm)
The Pacific Seahorse is the only seahorse found along the pacific coast of the southern United States, Mexico and beyond. Colors are highly variable.
Round Stingray
Scientific Name: Urolphus halleri
Family: Urolophidae
Size: Length to 22 inches (56 cm), not including tail
The Round Stingray is the most common stingray in our area. Found resting or forging for food on and over sand flats near sea grass patches. Often half buried in the sand. Can be found in spring and early summer in large mating aggregations. People often get stung, accidently stepping on them, when entering the water. When shore diving in a sandy area make sure to shuffle your feet and look into the water immediately in front of you.
Diamond Stingray
Scientific Name: Dasyatis dipterura
Family: Dasyatidae
Size: Length to 6 ft (2 m), not including tail
The Diamond Stingray is the largest, common ray in the area. Found resting or forging for food on and over sand flats near sea grass patches. Often half buried in the sand.
California Moray Eel
Scientific Name: Gymnothorax mordax
Family: Muraenidae
Size: Length to 5 ft (1.5 m)
The California Moray Eel is the only moray native to the west coast of the United States. Morays breath by opening and closing their mouths which is often misinterpreted for aggression. Usually found during the day in a hole or under rocks it is a nocturnal hunter. All morays have a second set of internal jaws called pharyngeal jaws which help them to hang onto their prey.
Invertebrates
Our waters are full of sharks, but not in the way most people think. The majority of San Diego shark diving is done with small, bottom dwelling, and much less intimidating local species than your average Shark Week stereotype.
Abalone
Scientific Name: Haliotis, sp.
Family: Haliotidae
Size: 10 in (250 mm)
Abalones are some of the most primitive of snails having just one cup-like shell and a large muscular foot. There are six species in the San Diego area which differ only in foot and tentacle color (often not easy to see) and the number of open holes on the top of the shell. There is currently a complete moratorium on abalone harvesting.
Ready to look for small sharks?
Our two dive boats make weekly trips to dive sites inhabited by shark species, with sevengill shark season (spring) being our most shark-diving-focused one. We'll take you to them.
Photo by Ed Olu