One of the questions I get most often after a trip to Sharm is: “What was that fish?” Here are 10 of the fish you are most likely to meet on the reefs in Sharm El Sheikh – and how to recognise them.
Common names vary a lot from country to country, so I have added the scientific name. It is the only name that is the same everywhere.
Klunzinger’s wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii)
Green with pinkish-red lines on the head and bars along the body. A fast, curious wrasse that is only found in the Red Sea – it often follows snorkelers around – its the charming fish at the photo on top of the page!
Masked butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)
Yellow with a blue-grey “mask” around the eye. Often in pairs, hanging still under table corals. It is only found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Red Sea bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)
Black and white bands, yellow fins and a long white “banner” on the back fin. Often in pairs or small groups along the reef – another Red Sea speciality.
Red Sea anemonefish (Amphiprion bicinctus)
Orange-brown with two white bands. It lives in a sea anemone and defends its home – even against snorkelers. Look as much as you like, but do not touch the anemone.
Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
The orange clouds above the coral. Most of them are females. The males are purple-red with a long spine on the back fin – and they all started life as females.
Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi)
Looks like it was painted by Picasso, with blue and yellow lines across the face. Usually close to the bottom over sand and rubble in shallow water.
Sohal surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)
Grey with fine dark stripes and an orange mark by the tail. It patrols the shallow reef edge and chases other fish away. Like all surgeonfish it has a sharp “scalpel” by the tail – keep your distance.
Bluespotted stingray (Taeniura lymma)
Brown-green with bright blue spots and two blue stripes along the tail. It rests under ledges or on the sand. Leave it alone – the tail has a venomous spine.
Common lionfish (Pterois miles)
Red and white stripes and long, feather-like fins. Slow and calm, but the spines are venomous. Read more about the lionfish of the Red Sea.
Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens)
A large triggerfish with a dark “moustache”. Usually peaceful, but in the breeding season it guards its nest on the sand – and the area it defends is shaped like a cone that reaches all the way to the surface. If one comes at you, swim away horizontally, not upwards.
Want to know the rest?
These are 10 of the 115 fish in my fish guide. The guide is sorted by where you see the fish – on the sand, on top of the reef, along the wall – so it is easy to find the one you just saw. You can also start with the free checklist and tick off what you see.
Planning your trip? Read about the best snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh.
Happy snorkeling!
