What the
heck was that? This is one of the most commonly asked question
by surfacing divers. Over 21,700 species of fish have been described
so far, with predictions of up to 28,000. That's a lot of fish
for one to try and identify. Besides the fish, you will see plants
and corals of all sorts. Unless you are an expert botanist or
Ichthyologist the task of identifying all of the inhabitants of
the under water world can be a daunting task.
Granted it
takes time to become an expert Ichthyologist, however there are
a variety of resources on the internet and in your local bookstore.
Over time you will begin to pick up names of fish, plants and
coral by listening to others discuss their finds after a dive.
One thing you will notice is that some creatures are named for
exactly what they look like or for how they behave. Parrot fish
have "beaks" for eating coral, elkhorn coral looks like a set
of elk antlers, while brain coral resembles a brain. Taking note
of a creatures form or function will help you to identify them
later. I keep a slate with me to jot down notes about something
I cannot identify. Once at the surface someone will usually have
the answer for me. If not then I search one of the many field
guides I have tucked away in my dive bag. Here are some of my
favorites:
- National
Audubon Society Field Guide to Tropical Marine Fishes
- National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures
- National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales
and Dolphins
- National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Sea Shells
- Peterson
Field Guides: Freshwater Fishes
- Caribbean
Reef Fishes
- Check out
Sea
Challengers marine fishes section for a list of other great
books.
Now is your
chance to get up close and personal with some of the most fearsome
and fascinating creatures that roam the ocean's depths. Diving
becomes more enjoyable when you know what you are looking at.
Something else you may want to consider is keeping a journal of
all of the creatures you see while underwater. The journals will
help to keep all of your dive experiences straight.
