Marine life profile
Starfish
Recorded at 101 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Starfish around the world
Starfish or sea stars are a class of marine invertebrates generally shaped like a star polygon. (In common usage, these names are also often applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars.) Starfish are also known as asteroids because they form the taxonomic class Asteroidea (). Its movements may be subtle, but feeding, filtering and defensive responses are constantly reshaping the reef at close range.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
Slow down and look for distinctive texture, symmetry and color rather than a familiar fish-like silhouette.
How It Behaves
Its movements may be subtle, but feeding, filtering and defensive responses are constantly reshaping the reef at close range.
Special Ability
Specialized tissues, stinging cells, regeneration or chemical defenses solve survival without speed or heavy armor.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Perfect your buoyancy and observe from above without touching the animal or the surface supporting it.
Safety
Many invertebrates are fragile, venomous or irritating to skin. Keep hands, fins and equipment clear.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
About 1,900 species of starfish live on the seabed, and are found in all the world's oceans, from warm, tropical zones to frigid, polar regions.
Where to Find
Look closely on reef walls, coral heads, sand, seagrass, jetties and shaded overhangs.
Known countries
Sightings map
Starfish locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Gordon's Bay
Australia
Gordon's Bay is renowned for its accessibility and year-round appeal for divers and snorkelers. The calm conditions and a maximum depth of 14 meters make it a popular spot for all levels of divers. Gordon's Bay is famous for the underwater nature trail, a 600-meter path marked by a chain that guides you through the site. The trail leads to "The Wall," which is home to many Port Jackson sharks and Wobbegong sharks. Along the nature trail, divers also commonly encounter the famous Blue Groper, a local legend and a favorite among divers. Photos by Aquatic Imaging Australia.
Nunn's beach is a swimming beach, with easy access via a board walk. This dive is parallel to the Breakwater Wall, 20 to 50m off the wall. Swim due East and from 4m onwards, signs of reef appear. looking around these reef systems, you may find Weedy Seadragons, Shaw's Box fish, Angel Sharks, Fiddler Rays, Reef fish, Nudibranchs, sponges, soft corals and false corals. The reef systems can be sparce or prolific, depending on how far off the Breakwater wall you are. Best dived on a Westerly or Southerly wind and low swell for the best visibility. This area can be dived all year round, take a dive float and flag, as this is open sea and boats move through the area.
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.
Archeology Trail
Italy
Starting with a descent along the line down to 20 meters, the route winds through sand and rock, with a bottom depth ranging between 22 and 15 meters. What truly sets this site apart is a continuous guideline that accompanies you throughout the entire dive, leading you to discover ancient artifacts.
Coral Garden
Philippines
About 1 kilometer offshore, in the middle of world-famous White Beach is Coral Garden dive site. Training ground for thousands of divers over the years . In clear calm conditions, entry-level student divers will be introduced to open water diving. The terrain is sandy channels and areas around coral bommies.
Corralito
Mexico
Great dive site for large marine life, nudis, and everything in between. Light to moderate current with max depth 18m/ 60 feet and water temp in the high 21-26 Grad/ 70s/low 80s. Also a good spot for a night dive.
Cyclops Islands
Italy
The Cyclops Islands are located in a Marine Protected Area only 150 meters from shore off of the seaside village of Aci Trezza near Catania, Sicily, Italy. Ranging from 2-25 meters deep, it is a diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise with volcanic seabeds teeming with an abundance of marine life.
Cyclops Nursery
Italy
Featuring easy shore access, this breathtaking basin sheltered by the iconic Acitrezza sea stacks offers an unparalleled underwater experience. The seascape combines striking volcanic rock formations with sandy patches and lush Posidonia seagrass meadows.
Kasitsna Bay Laboratory
United States
Noaa facility, dive site has a dock with active boats coming and going with a average depth of 25 feet. Marine life come into the dive site on a regular basic.
Lighthouse Wall
Italy
Facing the Capomulini lighthouse, easily reachable by boat from Acitrezza, the area offers both a plateau and a reef, allowing dives at both 15 m and 35 m.
Lost Anchor
Mauritius
Lost Anchor is one of the most popular reef spots in the north of Mauritius, located off gunner’s quoin, near Cap Malheureux and Grand Baie. Depth between 24 and 30 m
Madonna or Sugar Loaf
Malta
Halfway along the reef wall there is a statue of our lady, also known as Madonna, in a small cave at a depth of 18 metres. The Madonna statue was placed in this cavern by a local dive club Amphibians Diving Club in November 1987. For the 20th anniversary in 2007 the dive club added a commemorative plaque.
Right Arch
Malta
Cirkewa Arch is a beautiful natural underwater archway. The Arch is actually a cavern where the roof has collapsed long ago, leaving the Arch as a result. The Arch is at 12m below the surface and 8m above the seabed. On the way to the Arch there are also some nice caves/tunnels.
The Roman Ship dive site, located near Isola dei Cavoli off the coast of Villasimius in southern Sardinia, is a fascinating blend of history and marine life.
Sarang Lang, Tenggol, Terengganu
Malaysia
Sarang Lang is a dive site located at the southwestern tip of Tenggol Island, featuring gentle slope terrain with depths ranging from 9 to 25 meters.
Seekombuis
South Africa
This dive site is entered from the shore. situated north of the See Kombuis . There is low surge making this a calm entry, after which we do surface swim or about 150m. Mostly used of entry level dives.
Stingray Canyon
Italy
Off the coast of Capomulini, reachable in under 30 minutes from Acitrezza harbour, the site appears as a canyon with two lateral cliffs that allow multi-level dives. The cliffs, with a sandy expanse at their base, are rich in crevices that provide shelter for numerous marine species.
The Castle
Italy
Beneath the Norman castle of Acicastello, an extensive landslide of large basalt boulders ends on a sandy seabed, rich in crevices and small canyons, shelters for wrasses, groupers, and scorpionfish.
The Crucible Warfighter Scuba
Honduras
Shallow sea grass and sand area inside the reef. Obstacle course setup for perfect buoyancy course work and beginner friendly. Perfect place for Open Water skills with the added benefit of an underwater obstacle course.
Tokong Laut
Malaysia
Tokong Laut is one of the deepest and most pelagic-rich dive sites around Tenggol Island. It’s a pinnacle/reef site situated offshore and is favoured by advanced divers because of strong currents, deep slopes, and abundant big fish encounters.
Aquarium Pereybere, Mauritius
Mauritius
Pereybere Aquarium is one of the most popular spots in the north of Mauritius, particularly appreciated for its abundant marine life and accessibility. It is an ideal site for first-time dives
Aquarium San Carlos
Mexico
New Diver experience to keep shallow with tons of aquatic life. Lots of artificial life. Big boulders, kelp in the cooler months, grunts, damsels, octopus, nudibranchs and more.
Baixa da Pitanga
Location being verified
Only 3mins by boat from Santa Cruz Close to a Coast Line, with huge rocks that goes underwater until max 25 metersGood spot for all the type of activities, such as Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Try Scuba Diving
Baixa das Moreias - Clube Naval
Portugal
In front of Clube Naval do Funchal, this rocky reef is home to plenty of marine life. Easy immersion for beginners. Navigation is not difficult, as the reef extends in an east-west direction.