Bannerfish
The False Moorish Idol
Bannerfish are one of the most commonly seen fish amongst the Pacific reef community. Often referred to as false Moorish idols, bannerfish are easily distinguishable by their less ornate black, yellow, and white striping and smaller snout. There are two types of bannerfish, both native to the Indo-Pacific region: longfin and schooling bannerfish. These relatively small reef fish can grow to a maximum length of 18-21 cm.
Although they look very similar and are hard to distinguish from each other to the untrained eye, you can quickly determine which of the two species you are diving with based on their behavior. If you are diving with bannerfish congregated together on one spot of the reef in large numbers, they are schooling bannerfish. If, however, you only see one or two swimming around, they are most likely the longfin bannerfish. Check out the dive site map below to see where you can go diving with bannerfish.
Dive sites with this animal Show more on map
★★★★☆ Villingilli Thila
Small Thila directly on the island of Villingilli on the offshore plateau in the direction of the channel between Raa and Baa Atoll. Usually a jump into the blue water east of the Thila above the plateau at the edge for approx. Let drift along 30m towards Thila and then slowly climb up the Thila. Current !!!!
★★★★☆ Kudathulhaadhoo Caves
Drift dive along Kudathulhaadhoo Island. Large overhang with soft corals in the west, caves in the middle, and a small bay and the tip in the east is full of fish
★★★★☆ Kinolhas Kandu
Drift dive with the current flowing from the western tip of Kinohlas along the north side towards the small Thila. Lots of fish on the top of the reef, some really nice little overhangs deeper. Experienced divers dive to the thila, beginners stay over the overhangs and slowly ascend the Sandy Slope
★★★★★ SILVER REEF HOUSE REEF
Gentle slope reef with a lot of yellow tail Snappers, resident Green Turtles and Hawksbill turtles. Reef has strong current but a diver can hide behind huge coral bommies and hang out with fish at 5m
★★★★★ Aarah Kuda Thila
A small reef with many different types of colorful coral. The reef roof is at a height of 6m and has a diameter of approx. 20m, at a depth of 25m it should be approx. 50m. On the west side an overhang with soft corals, further deeper a gap with giant moray eels and cleaner shrimp.
★★★★☆ Kalawy House Reef, South
A beautiful house reef sitting just off-shore from the Magic Life resort. Easily accessible from the beach or the jetty with calm conditions and very clear water.