Sergeant Major

Commonly seen among our reefs and rocks, this striking fish will bravely ward off all intruders from its nest. But this member of the damselfish family does not object to humans, and will often approach quite close to snorkellers and divers.

Silversides

Living in vast, distinctive schools comprising anchovies, sardines and herring, it can be difficult to differentiate the species involved, even by experts. These nervous “baitfish” schools are made up of hundreds — sometimes thousands — of fish moving as one. Snorkellers at Church Bay often see bands of sliversides in the summer months.

Spanish Hogfish

This colourful reef fish grows to 36CM / 14IN long. In its youth, it is commonly found in nearby cleaning stations offering its services to the moray eel. The Spanish hogfish is bright lemon yellow with a saddle of deep magenta on its back. It also appears to be wearing bright scarlet eyeliner. Its strong teeth enable the fish to eat tough, but delectable foods such as crabs, urchins and snails.

Squirrelfish

Another commonly seen and attractive fish, the squirrelfish is bright orange with oversized fins and large dark eyes. The size of this fish’s eyes gives you a clue as to its feeding habits — it is chiefly nocturnal. A highly territorial fish, it is often seen during the day resting under overhangs. As night falls, the squirrelfish becomes more active and hunts our reefs for crustaceans and molluscs.

Trumpetfish

Extremely elongated and reaching a length of 1M / 3.3FT, trumpetfish claim an unusually long snout. They are often seen lingering in vertically branching corals, such as sea rods, in an effort to blend in.

• Trumpetfish, like goatfish, possess chin barbells but put them to an entirely different purpose. Their barbells are used as lures for smaller fish
• You will see trumpetfish in a huge variety of colours and patterns, which they are able to change rapidly

Yellowheaded Wrasse

Spending their nights safely buried in sand, during daylight hours these fish are constantly on the prowl. While these fish are not particularly large, they possess an arsenal of strong, sharp teeth that protrude to give them a buck-toothed appearance. Yellowheads are light blue-grey on their undersides and rear quarters, while their front half is bright yellow with speckling near its eyes.