Marine life profile
Stonefish
Recorded at 535 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Stonefish around the world
Synanceia is a genus of ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Synanceiinae, commonly known as the stonefish, which is classified within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfish and close relatives. It remains still on the bottom and waits for small fish to move within striking distance.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
A thick-set ambush predator whose rough, mottled skin can look almost exactly like a rock.
How It Behaves
It remains still on the bottom and waits for small fish to move within striking distance.
Special Ability
Camouflage hides a lightning-fast mouth and venomous dorsal spines.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Keep excellent buoyancy and never place hands, knees or feet on apparently empty rock or rubble.
Safety
Highly venomous. Do not touch or stand near it, and treat any suspected spine injury as an urgent medical emergency.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
Stonefish are the most venomous fish known, stings can be fatal to humans.
Where to Find
Look around coral structure, rocky reef, wrecks and current lines where shelter and food meet.
Known countries
Sightings map
Stonefish locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Confetti Bay
Mauritius
A firm favourite in the North, a shallow dive site with a slight drop off to a max of 30 m. An ideal training site for PADI Open Water Divers, or a PADI Search and Recovery Specialty, Fish ID, Naturalist or PADI Advanced Open Water Course! So many schools of fish to swim with and enjoy stunning visibility and beautiful colour. Great for macro.
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.
Siyul Kebira
Egypt
Siyul Kebira or Big Siyul is one of the Northern Red Sea Islands where you can dive 4 or 5 different spots around the island. This dive site is for all divers levels while it has walls, coral garden, lots of shallow lagoons.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
alimas faru
Maldives
Easy dive along the inside reef and around a thila. If the current allows it, it is also very nice to dive the small thila on the north west side.
Amingiri Sandbank Reef
Maldives
What seems to be a rather “unspectacular” sandbank reveals itself as a very pretty dive site. Having said that, sandbanks are never really unspectacular in the Maldives but you wouldn’t expect a very pretty wall ranging from 3 to 30 meters when looking at the pristine white sand on top of the reef.
Ampelos I
Greece
A beautiful, rocky area, offering a rare glimpse into an untouched underwater world. Here, marine life thrives, creating a vibrant, living ecosystem ideal for close observation.
Ampelos right
Greece
Experience level: All level Maximum depth: 30m This is a rocky area that thrives with wild sea life. There are a few monoliths that are protruding from the sea bottom in magnificent shapes.
Ancient mine
Greece
This spot offers easy access to the water, with a small path winding through trees and leading to a rocky platform resembling a natural pool.After passing through a shallow area, you’ll reach a reef that starts at 8 meters and slopes down to 30 meters.
Aplysina
Guadeloupe
At a depth of around 9 to 12m, this site offers a lovely walk on a reef that boasts an incredible number of rope sponges and other sponges, hence the name Aplysina.
Aquaventure Ship Wreck
Philippines
Opposite Aquaventure Reef Club. A blue buoy shows the line. Huge amount of fish living inside the wreck. The wreck sits at 35 mts. 2 other wreck heading back to the shore. One is an SUV and the other is an old helicopter. Follow the white buoy. The staff at Aquaventure are really helpful.
Aride Bank
Seychelles
Situated north of Praslin island, approximately 30-35 mins by boat, time may vary depending on the weather conditions. The dive sites consists mostly of submerged granitic rocks. The average depth is between 12-22 metres.
Armageddon
United States
Apocalyptic mayhem at 80ft/24m, remnants of the old Frederiksted pier that was destroyed in Hurricane Hugo were dumped on this site. Lots of beams, tires and twisted steel to explore. Some reef sharks get a little close on this dive. Sea floor is at 101ft/30m.
Arrecife Norte
Colombia
This dive site is located at the northern end of the reef platform that makes up Isla Fuerte. Its shallowest part is at 8 meters deep, going to 15 meters on a vertical wall, after which it descends between coral mounds to a maximum depth of 24 meters.
Avion Cessna 188
France
Dive into this wreck of an small plane, a CESSNA 188, which was used to spray pesticides on banana plantations in its first life. Following an accident, it could not be repaired. The plane was decontaminated and submerged in 2000 at a depth of 23 metres on the edge of the coral reefs, and is now full of life!
Baba Island North
Turkey
This dive site is great for beginners and students. Also suitable for divers hasn’t dived for a long time.there are many places you can use as a entry and exit point. from waist level to deep water entry. Clear conditions