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Travel, Wildlife · September 22, 2019

21 fish species you’ll see when snorkelling or diving in Bali or Lombok

The ocean around the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok are some of the best places to spot beautiful tropical fish! To help you identify some of the most common ones that you’ll see while snorkelling or diving, I’ve put together this handy guide.

Snorkelling in Indonesia is one of the best things to do while you’re here as the waters are warm and there are many calm areas to swim in. Always be careful when snorkelling and swimming in the sea, stay in recommended areas and don’t go alone. If you go by boat, then make sure that the driver doesn’t drive too close to cliffs, as this can result in accidents due to the currents.

I also recommend bringing your own snorkel as some of the ones available to hire from budget places aren’t very good and I used one that squeezed my face! They’re sometimes cheaper to buy at home, as they cost around $25 to buy in Indonesia or about $4 per day to hire.

Be sure to adhere to the snorkelling code of conduct in order to protect the reef, do not touch any coral or marine life, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the water and don’t take anything from the ocean, unless its trash.

Read more of my sustainable snorkelling tips and reef-safe sunscreen recommendations here.

I’ve concentrated on tropical fish here, but you stand a good chance of seeing turtles, dolphins, manta rays, octopuses and sharks as well!

*This post may contain affiliate links*

1. Foxface rabbitfish

Foxface rabbitfish, iStock
Foxface rabbitfish, iStock

2. Raccoon butterflyfish

Raccoon butterflyfish, iStock
Raccoon butterflyfish, iStock

3. Teardrop butterflyfish

Teardrop butterflyfish, iStock
Teardrop butterflyfish, iStock

4. Saddle butterflyfish

Saddle butterflyfish, iStock
Saddle butterflyfish, iStock

RECOMMENDED SNORKEL:

5. Threadfin butterflyfish

Threadfin butterflyfish, iStock
Threadfin butterflyfish, iStock

6. Flame angelfish

Flame angelfish, iStock
Flame angelfish, iStock

7. Emperor angelfish

Emperor angelfish, iStock
Emperor angelfish, iStock

8. Threespot angelfish

Threespot angelfish, iStock
Threespot angelfish, iStock

9. Circular spadefish (batfish)

Circular spadefish (batfish), iStock
Circular spadefish (batfish), iStock

10. Sergeant major fish

Sergeant major fish, iStock
Sergeant major fish, iStock

11. Humbug dascyllus

The humbug dascyllus is also known as the whitetail dascyllus.

Humbug dascyllus, iStock
Humbug dascyllus, iStock

12. Tomato clownfish

Tomato clownfish, iStock
Tomato clownfish, iStock

13. Blue-green chromis

Blue-green chromis, iStock
Blue-green chromis, iStock

14. Bicolour parrotfish

Bicolour parrotfish, iStock
Bicolour parrotfish, iStock

15. Coral grouper

Coral grouper, iStock
Coral grouper, iStock

16. Clown triggerfish

The great thing about the clown triggerfish is that it’s impossible to confuse with any other fish!

Clown triggerfish, iStock
Clown triggerfish, iStock

17. Titan triggerfish

This giant fish can be aggressive and cause damage, so keep your distance from them!

Titan triggerfish, iStock
Titan triggerfish, iStock

18. Striped surgeonfish

Striped surgeonfish, iStock
Striped surgeonfish, iStock

19. Oriental sweet lips

Don’t let the problematic name put you off, this fellow is a striped and spotted beauty.

Oriental sweetlips, iStock
Oriental sweetlips, iStock

20. Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish, iStock
Trumpetfish, iStock

21. Cornetfish

Cornetfish, iStock
Cornetfish, iStock

Obviously, there are plenty more fish in the sea! Not to mention the manta rays, sharks and turtles which I will mention in another post. But what I want to know is what have YOU seen?

I saw these while I was snorkelling in the waters around the Gilis and Nusa Lembongan, but did you see different fish on other islands? Let me know in the comments below.

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21 fish species you’ll see when snorkelling or diving in Bali or Lombok
21 fish species you’ll see when snorkelling or diving in Bali or Lombok

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Posted In: Travel, Wildlife · Tagged: Asia, Bali, Diving, featured, Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, Lombok, Nusa Lembongan, Snorkelling, Southeast Asia, Tropical fish

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