DiveJourneyDiveJourney

Wildlife · Country Guide

United States of America

Two oceans, a thousand microclimates, and a dive plan for every style

Updated Dec 16, 2025 • 14 sources

View On Map

Wildlife In United States of America

Browse the full species list linked to approved dive spots across United States of America.

Green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Moorea, French Polynesia
Turtles

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

52 linked spots

Photo of Octopus
Molluscs

Octopus

32 linked spots

gray snake photography
Rays

Moray Eel

29 linked spots

Photo of Bass
Freshwater Fishes

Bass

26 linked spots

Photo of Grouper/Basslets
Saltwater Fishes

Grouper/Basslets

24 linked spots

crab on rock
Crustaceans

Crab

22 linked spots

Photo of Nudibranch
Molluscs

Nudibranch

21 linked spots

Photo of Whitetip Reef Shark
Sharks

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

18 linked spots

Gestreifter Adlerrochen ( Pteromylaeus bovinus )
Rays

Eagle Ray

17 linked spots

gray shark in body of water
Sharks

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

14 linked spots

a fish swimming in water
Saltwater Fishes

Parrotfish

13 linked spots

Photo of Shrimp
Crustaceans

Shrimp

13 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in the water
Saltwater Fishes

Barracuda

12 linked spots

Photo of Catfish
Freshwater Fishes

Catfish

12 linked spots

Photo of Snapper
Saltwater Fishes

Snapper

12 linked spots

green and black fish in body of water
Rays

Stingrays

12 linked spots

Photo of Wrasse
Saltwater Fishes

Wrasse

12 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in some water
Saltwater Fishes

Angelfish

11 linked spots

Photo of Hypsypops rubicundus (garibaldi) at the Birch Aquarium in San Diego
Saltwater Fishes

Garibaldi Damselfish

Hypsypops rubicundus

10 linked spots

Photo of Surgeonfish
Saltwater Fishes

Surgeonfish

Acanthuridae

10 linked spots

Photo of Trout
Freshwater Fishes

Trout

10 linked spots

Photo of Sea Lion
Other Mammals

Sea Lion

9 linked spots

Photo of Seal
Other Mammals

Seal

8 linked spots

A fish that is sitting in the sand
Saltwater Fishes

Butterfly Fish

7 linked spots

Photo of Eel
Saltwater Fishes

Eel

7 linked spots

brown turtle in sea
Turtles

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

7 linked spots

Photo of Jackfish
Saltwater Fishes

Jackfish

7 linked spots

Photo of Perch
Freshwater Fishes

Perch

7 linked spots

Photo of Walleye
Freshwater Fishes

Walleye

Sander vitreus

7 linked spots

Photo of Loggerhead Turtle
Turtles

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

6 linked spots

a blue and white fish in an aquarium
Saltwater Fishes

Triggerfish

6 linked spots

Photo of Wolf Eel
Saltwater Fishes

Wolf Eel

Anarrhichthys ocellatus

6 linked spots

Photo of Pike
Freshwater Fishes

Pike

Esox

5 linked spots

Photo of Pufferfish
Saltwater Fishes

Pufferfish

Tetraodontidae

5 linked spots

Photo of Reef Manta Ray
Rays

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi

5 linked spots

Photo of Salmon
Freshwater Fishes

Salmon

5 linked spots

Photo of Carp
Freshwater Fishes

Carp

4 linked spots

a blue and yellow fish on a coral reef
Saltwater Fishes

Damselfish

4 linked spots

Torpedo marmorata - Spotted torpedo / Torpedo (Tembladera) / Raie torpille, Tenerife.
Rays

Electric Ray

4 linked spots

Photo of Flounder
Saltwater Fishes

Flounder

4 linked spots

Photo of Squid
Molluscs

Squid

4 linked spots

dolphin in body of water
Dolphins

Bottlenose Dolphin

3 linked spots

a close up of a sea anemone on the ocean floor
Saltwater Fishes

Frogfish

3 linked spots

Photo of Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
Rays

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

3 linked spots

Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) Image ID: corl0207, NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection Location: Pacific Remote Islands, Kingman Reef Photo Date: 2015 Photographer: Kevin Lino NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD
Sharks

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

3 linked spots

Photo of Scorpionfish
Saltwater Fishes

Scorpionfish

Scorpaenidae

3 linked spots

Photo of Spinner Dolphin
Dolphins

Spinner Dolphin

Stenella longirostris

3 linked spots

Photo of Sturgeon
Freshwater Fishes

Sturgeon

3 linked spots

a yellow and black spotted fish in an aquarium
Saltwater Fishes

Boxfish

Ostraciidae (family)

2 linked spots

Shark swimming with striped fish underwater
Sharks

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

2 linked spots

Photo of Garfish uploaded from iNaturalist .
Saltwater Fishes

Garfish

Belone belone

2 linked spots

Photo of Goatfish
Saltwater Fishes

Goatfish

2 linked spots

Photo of Guitarfish
Rays

Guitarfish

2 linked spots

Humpback Whale underwater shot
Whales

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

2 linked spots

gray shark under water during daytime
Sharks

Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

2 linked spots

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) near Gilli Banta Island (near Komodo, Indonesia)
Saltwater Fishes

Lionfish

2 linked spots

Photo of Trumpetfish
Saltwater Fishes

Trumpetfish

2 linked spots

Australian angelshark ( Squatina australis ) at the Bicheno Dive Centre, Tasmania
Sharks

Angel Shark

Squatina

1 linked spot

A moorish idol fish swims in dark water.
Saltwater Fishes

Bannerfish

1 linked spot

orange and white clown fish
Saltwater Fishes

Clownfish

1 linked spot