Marine life profile
Scorpionfish
Recorded at 3075 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Scorpionfish around the world
The Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish) are a family of mostly marine fishes that includes many of the world's most venomous species. It trusts camouflage, remaining still until prey passes close enough for a sudden suction strike.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
A broad-headed fish covered in mottled flaps and texture that breaks up its outline against reef or rubble.
How It Behaves
It trusts camouflage, remaining still until prey passes close enough for a sudden suction strike.
Special Ability
Its body can visually disappear into algae, sponge and broken coral while venomous spines discourage contact.
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
Do not touch or rest on the bottom. Several scorpionfish carry medically significant venom in their dorsal spines.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus.
Where to Find
Look around coral structure, rocky reef, wrecks and current lines where shelter and food meet.
Known countries
Sightings map
Scorpionfish locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Area Perlindungan Laut (APL)
Indonesia
This dive site used to be protected area therefore you can find group of transplant coral in 5 meters. The bottom topography is sloppy and coral with some sand patches.
Back Door
Cambodia
The dive site Back Door is a massive reef stretching all the way from Mpai Bay village around the north-western side of Koh Rong Sanloem island. The reef is consisting of large boulders in the shallow part of the dive and a little cliff like overhang where lucky divers can often spot Cobias and schooling Baraccudas. Because if the size of the reef, one may do dozens of dives and always find new things to explore.
Bahura Dive House Reef
Philippines
A really varied dive site with a mix of huge coral formations, coral fields, and sandy areas. Great for macro and night diving. Deeper sandy areas and reef oases full of fish life and whip corals.
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.
Casino Point Dive Park
United States
One of the most popular dive sites in North America is well worth the acclaim. Featuring enchanting kelp forests, ever-changing marine life and convenient entry, the Casino Point Dive Park is a site you will want to visit again and again.
Gabr el Bint
Egypt
Gabr el Bint ranks among one of the most attractive sites of North Sinai. With the access by boat, 4x4 or by camel, it is less frequently dived than the other dive sites in Dahab which has left this site in pristine condition. Gabr el Bint means 'The Grave of the Girl' in Arabic. There are two dives possible here. The ledge is riddled with exquisite coral heads that attract numerous reef species, including swarms of anthias, scorpionfish, parrotfish, crocodilefish, surgeonfish, triggerfish, trumpetfish, stingrays and very often a turtle. At the end of the ledge usually is home to a shoal of black and white snappers and twinspot snappers hang here between 5m and 10m. One of the truly breathtaking dives in Dahab.
HTMS Chang wreck
Thailand
HTMS Chang Shipwreck On the 22nd of November 2012 the HTMS Chang has been sunk. The wreck quickly turned into a great artificial reef thriving with marine life, shells, coral, gorgonians... It is truly a spectacular wreck dive, the bottom is on 30m, the topdeck on 20m, captain's cabin and mast on 12 meter and reaches close to the surface around 5 meters. The ship is 100m long, making it the biggest shipwreck in Thailand. Many fish have taken refuge at the Chang, batfish, filefish, scorpionfish, barracuda, giant groupers, squid and octopus, shrimpfish,... we get regular visits of whaleshark to spoil our divers and snorkelers, there is a very interesting diversity of marine life. The HTMS Chang is lying close to Koh Chang, about half hour out by wooden boat, so it is perfect to combine with either Hin Luk Bath or Hin Raab.
Johnny's Gorge
India
Johnny's Gorge is a bed of low-lying rocky outcrops emerging from the bottom at 26metres / 85 feet. Surrounded by sand in every direction, these rocks have become an oasis of security and food for everything from small angelfish and anemonefish to spectacular schools of mackerels, barracudas, trevallies, bumphead parrotfish, surgeonfish, and snappers. And if this isn't enough, this world-class dive site is also home to reef sharks, giant groupers, large stingrays, and visiting manta and eagle rays. There is very rarely a quiet moment at Johnny's Gorge.
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.
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
Stonehenge
Thailand
Stonehenge is a superlative dive site and must be considered one of the top scuba spots in Thailand. Stonehenge is located only 5-10 minutes from Koh Lipe by boat and is full of Soft Leafy Coral making it a beautiful and vibrant reef. Generally you will see schools of Barracudas, Trevally & Yellow Snappers. Smaller creatures include Seahorses, Shrimps, Crabs, Nudibranchs, Seamoths, Stonefish & Frogfish. As this site is very exposed, strong currents can be expected, meaning diving here around Full or Black moon is not usually possible.
Tribe Gate
India
Tribe Gate/Oval reef is not one reef, but several patches of reefs around the bigger reef which is, well, you guessed right, oval-shaped! The shallowest part of the reef is about 3 metres / 10 feet and the deepest part is about 15 metres / 50 feet. Schools of juvenile pick handle barracudas, two-spot snappers, and fusiliers are found in this area. In the shallows, you will hear the loud crunching of humphead parrotfish before you see them. Octopuses, colourful nudibranchs, and a variety of anemonefish are also spotted here.
Tulamben
Indonesia
The wreck lies in shallow water and is considered appropriate for divers of all certification levels. The ship rests in 30 metres of water, is roughly 25 metres from shore and can be reached with a short swim from the beach. The highest point of the wreck tops out about 5 metres from the surface. The ship was torpedoed by the Japanese off the nearby Island of Lombok and the ship was towed to the beach at Tulamben for salvage operations. The 1963 eruption of Mt. Agung, which devastated much of the eastern side of Bali, drove the ship into the water just off shore, where it became encrusted with coral and a home to other sea life.
’écomusée sous-marin
France
The underwater eco-museum is made up of 6 submerged statues near the southern shore of Sainte-Marguerite Island, at a depth of 3 to 5 meters.
1 / 4 Wreck (Stern Courier)
Grenada
This site is the stern section of the Courier wreck in 11 meters / 35 ft of water, resting upside down with the Engine block and hull plates scattered around when it rolled from the top of the reef after falling off a transport barge.
40 Kafalar
Turkey
This dive site is popular with those who like to do deep and drop-off dives. The site is between Pınar-1 wreck and Poyraz Bay. It is usually windy and choppy. The dive site has a drop-off first down to 17 m then to 45+ m.
40 Rows
Greece
This sheltered bay is the ideal dive site on days when the sea is not so calm. The deserted area is only accessible by boat, meaning there are always large amounts of fish look at, as well as a stunning view above water of the rocks against the magnificent blue sea.
5 Palms, Thulusdhoo
Maldives
5 Palms is a fun drift dive that has something to offer for every level of diver. The top of the reef starts at 5m and drops down at 8m. At 22/25m there is a sandy plateau on the edge of which big fish appear from time to time.
Aarah Dekunu Thila
Maldives
ADT is a deep thila in front off the island of Aarah. With a current from the west, we start on the gently sloping part of the lagoon in the south-west. We drift in a deep of 22m to the first small block and from there to the thila. If the current is not too strong, the dive can be ended at the main reef
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 Dabab V
Egypt
Access to this dive site is from a zodiac. Big and small coral blocks are found here with nice soft and hard corals. There are beautiful caves and open places with breathtaking light.
Abu Dabour
Egypt
The nearby jetty can be used to enter this dive or you can enter from the shore through a very nice small canyon leading you to the clear blue water. This dive starts with a sloping sand bottom where you can choose to head to the north or south reef.
Abu Talha
Egypt
15min drive north. Shallowly sloping coral garden with pinnacles, which, when dived north, turns into a sandy slope with table corals. In the shallow area especially beautiful due to massive hard coral blocks.Entrance over the reef top, therefore only diveable at high tide and little wind.
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.