Marine life profile
Jackfish
Recorded at 1276 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Jackfish around the world
The Carangidae are a family of ray-finned fish that includes the jacks, pompanos, jack mackerels, runners, trevallies, and scads. It follows a daily rhythm of feeding, sheltering and interacting with rivals, partners or a larger school.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
Use body shape, fin outline, color pattern and swimming style to separate it from the surrounding reef community.
How It Behaves
It follows a daily rhythm of feeding, sheltering and interacting with rivals, partners or a larger school.
Special Ability
Precise fins and a body shaped for its niche let it turn, hover or accelerate exactly where food and shelter demand.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Move slowly at the same depth, avoid swimming directly at it and let the fish resume its normal behavior.
Safety
Usually safe to observe at a respectful distance. Never feed, corner or touch a fish, especially near nests or cleaning stations.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
It is one of the five families in the suborder Carangoidei.
Where to Find
Look around coral structure, rocky reef, wrecks and current lines where shelter and food meet.
Known countries
Sightings map
Jackfish locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Mines of Moai
Philippines
After a vertiginous descent on the beautiful vertical wall you will find the top of the cave, follow it and on a sandy bottom you will find the guardian of the mine, watching to protect his treasure. Be sure to respect him. Accessible for experienced Freedivers (minimum level 3) and Advanced scubadivers
St. Didier Wreck
Turkey
St Didier has been sunked by an English aeroplane in 4th of July 1941 durin WW2. The ship whose real name was "Saint Didier", is lying right under the buoy which is an untired guard of the Antalya yatch harbour, 1 km away from there. With her bow looking to south and stern looking to the north, she is lying between 18 and 34 meters with an 35 degrees angle to the starport side. Her length is around 70 meters. In the studies done between 1946 and 1974 , they salvaged the skeletons and a lot of the ship's cargo. There is nothing much left as an artifact in the wreck becase of the later dives where everyone took some part of the wreck as a souvenier. But still she is getting the interest of the wreck divers.
Casa Blanca
Mexico
This is a gorgeous reef named after Casa Gordon, a beachfront house which used to white. The reef very similar in composition and marine life to Paso del Cedral, with a constant drift which helps travel over the reef. A favorite of Cozumel's repeat divers, this dive site is often thriving with sharks, green morays and turtles.
Cliff
Caribbean Netherlands
Entry at second gate Hamlet Oasis. Easy rocky entrance and you will find a pipe on your right (navigation marker) running down the reef. The reef starts straight from the shore. Follow the reef to the South, after about 10 minutes the reef becomes a huge vertical wall covered with beautiful plate corals and whip corals. Lots of creatures hiding in and on the wall. if you continue following the wall at around 18-meter depth you will come across some big elephant ear sponges. Keep an eye out for jacks and tarpons in the deeper part. When good on air you can continue to the little wreck of "La Machaca" which you will found at around 15-meter depth 30 to 35 minutes into the dive. This makes a good return point, head back in the shallower parts where you will find an abundance of life. Once you find back the pipe, that's you exit point. Perfect for the advanced course, with skills such as deep, navigation, fish ID, etc. Great for a night dive.
Drop Off
Philippines
Rising dramatically from the depths of 150 meters to kiss the surface, these twin pinnacles offer one of the most exhilarating dives in the Philippines. Only their coral-encrusted tips break the surface, hinting at the explosion of marine life that thrives below. What makes this site truly unforgettable is its crystal-clear visibility and the exhilarating drift when the currents pick up — and they can get powerful! On the southern side, you’ll descend along a breathtaking vertical wall that drops deep, while a plateau at around 10 meters features intricate ridges and fascinating rock formations. This is a dive where anything can appear. Cast your eyes into the blue for schooling tuna, jackfish, and the occasional cruising ray. Along the wall, you’ll be surrounded by clouds of orange anthias and butterflyfish, with every crevice home to critters like blennies, lionfish, pufferfish, moray eels, nudibranchs, and so much more. It's an underwater spectacle that never disappoints.
Ilha do Meio
Brazil
Sheltered and quiet place with dives up to 15 m depth. This island, which lies between the Sea of Outside and the Sea of Inside, is very rich in marine life.
Kandooma Thila
Maldives
Kandooma Thila, or also called Cocoa Thila, is one of the most exciting dives in South Male’ Atoll with great scenery as well as prolific fish life. The west and north side are the most spectacular, with the top at 16m. These are a focal point for schools of Bluefin Trevallies, eagle rays, dogtooth tunas and loose groups of gray reef sharks (50+ in the right current). Cleaning station for grey reef , you can see them going in a vertical position while small wrasses are cleaning them. Currents can be very strong making it a challenging dive. For experienced divers only.
Mantigue Island
Philippines
Mantigue Island is a small island located off the coast of Camiguin Island, Mindanao, Philippines. It is a popular diving destination that offers a variety of dive sites for both beginner and experienced divers. The island is surrounded by a fringing reef, which is home to a diverse range of marine life. The dive sites around Mantigue Island include a mix of shallow reefs and deeper walls, providing opportunities for divers of all levels of experience. One of the highlights of diving around Mantigue Island is the chance to see large schools of fish, such as jacks and barracudas. Divers can also spot a variety of smaller fish species, as well as larger animals such as turtles and rays. Mantigue Island's dive sites also feature a range of colorful corals, including both hard and soft corals. These corals provide a habitat for a variety of small marine creatures, such as nudibranchs and shrimp.
Mike's Maze
Sint Maarten
Part of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. It starts at approximately 40 feet (12 m) and boasts healthy coral formations and numerous maze-like swim throughs, passageways wind around coral heads, through arches and over bridges. This location is where the Nature Foundation conducted one of its coral reef restoration projects. Common critters: Many of the 60 TWA fish species! French Angelfish, schooling Chubs, Spiny Lobster, & Foureye Butterflyfish, Elkhorn Coral formations, Special guests: Spotted Eagle Rays, Squid, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Sexy Shrimp in anemones, staghorn coral formations
Pelican Rock
Mexico
Pelican Rock is one of Cabo's most famous sites. A pinnacle covered in purple fans rising up above the surface from around 14 meters underwater at its deepest. Just in front of the pinnacle we also have a beautiful wall dive filled with life, and off to its side one of Cabo's famous sand falls. The dive site has something for everyone. The shallows are great for courses & newer divers, while the deep walls make it an incredible spot for tec divers to explore. But the big highlight is the sheer amount of life that inhabits the site all year round, making it a beautiful spot for all levels of divers.
Rasdhoo Beyru
Maldives
A beautiful wall on the south side of the island of Rasdhoo with three small pinnacles (thila) that are on the lower edge a little further from the island wall. Thilas Top starts at 18-20 meters and is suitable for beginners and experts alike but the current can be medium to strong. Napoleon, white tip sharks and gray reef sharks can be sighted here regularly. Sometimes stingrays resting on the sandy bottom between 25 and 30 meters deep between the wall and the thilas. If you are lucky eagle rays, and on very lucky days manta rays! It is also a great diving spot for macro enthusiasts as so many small creatures can be found here!
Suriya's Hideout
India
Suriya’s Hideout is an artificial reef dive site consisting of concrete block structures intentionally deployed to promote marine habitat development. Over time, the site has evolved into a thriving ecosystem, attracting a variety of reef fish and juvenile species seeking shelter within the block formations. The layout creates swim-through style spaces and protected areas, making it an engaging dive for underwater exploration and marine life observation. This site is suitable for both beginner and advanced divers depending on current conditions
Abrolhos / Chapeirão Faca Cega
Location being verified
The set of coral pinnacles that received the name of “Faca Cega“ (Blind Knife) consists of one of the main diving points of the Abrolhos Archipelago. It has a room that reaches a depth of 25 meters, with almost 20 meters in diameter. The view is impressive, with several passages and burrows.
Abu Rashid Drift
Oman
Just 1 hour away from Khasab harbour, is Abu Rashid drift. This site can go to 50+ metres. The strength of the currents can vary from very slow to very fast depending on the tide timings and conditions.
Abu Rashid Wall
Oman
Roughly 1 hour away from Khasab harbour is Abu Rashid wall. This dive site goes to 50+ metres, there can often be strong currents however they vary alot depending on the conditions, tides etc.
Abwonderdive House Reef
Indonesia
This shore dive ranges from 5m to 30m, featuring a coral reef starting at 3m with soft and hard corals. Artificial reef structures lie between 15m and 18m. The current is usually mild to moderate, making for a manageable dive. The surface is generally calm but can be choppy from May to October.
Abyss’ Triggerfish
Solomon Islands
An incredible site we recently re-discovered. With our Abyss dive group we were searching for new sites during a lull with a cyclone, we found calm waters and great visibility and re-named the site in honour of the dive group! Macro heaven on this stunning sea mount!
Adabanko Reef
Turkey
One of the most famous dive site in Kuşadası, it is about 1.5/2 km from the shore, the depth starts from 5 meters. Dive north and you come to the edge of the reef, where you have a free descent to 15 meters after which you can eventually reach a depth of 40 meters.
adam faru
Maldives
Very nice landscape with beautiful coral rock formations between 5 and 20 meters. In between the rock formations are sandy plateaus with leather and soft corals. Torch and camera recommended.
Admiral 1
Maldives
It is one of the channels on the Western side of the atoll that can be crossed with mild current or entered with medium/strong current. Usually found on the outer side: stingrays, grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasses, fusiliers and many more reef fish.
Agi Anna
Greece
Dive under the famous monastery of the film big blue . Flat up to 18m then a wall dropped till 40 m . Excellent visibility and no currents makes this deep dive site very safe
Aichi D3A ’Val’ (Wreck)
Solomon Islands
This site is a fully intact Aichi D3A “Val“ dive bomber wreck. The aircraft rests upside down, at a depth of 10-15m. As well as being a fascinating wreck to explore, the Val is home to a whole host of interesting critters, such as shrimp and lionfish.
Aiyabe Thila (Hollywood)
Maldives
One of the best dive sites in this area, it offers almost everything. Top Reef 5 Meters , excellent for safety stop. Big overhangs with fantastic coral life, schooling fishes and predators wich hunt for them . Negative decent needed if there is current
Akehama
Japan
Located in the western part of Ehime Prefecture, Akihama is a beautifully scenic sea with a rias-style coast and a fine white sandy beach of about 300m in length. You can enjoy a wide range of life forms, from macro to migratory and rooted large fish.