Snorkeling fish identification book?
 

We've snorkeled all around the caribbean (going to st john for first time in 2 weeks) but a lot of the time, I don't know what I'm seeing. I mean, I know the better known fish, but see so many I don't.

Can anyone recommend a relatively cheap color book that is helpful in identifying fish one might encounter snorkeling in the caribbean?

Thanks!
Lisa

Head to your local dive shop and pick up a Reefcombers Guide for the Caribbean. It's a 5x7 laminated card that you can even hook to your swimsuit and take with you as you snorkel.
They should cost about $3.95
If they don't have one for the caribbean, the dive shop in your hotel will carry them.


Have fun... and leave only bubbles...

O.K., here ya go. I've done many Reef coral and fish surveys throughout the Caribbean and give schools presentations. Here's some neat stuff for ya.
(1) Obtain a water proof plastic laminated Fishwatcher's Field Guide to take in the water with you. It has color reef fish pictures on them. Call local scuba dive shops and see if they have any; most do.
(2) Fairly expensive, but worth it: Reef Fish id. for Florida, caribbean and Bahamas by Paul Humann. This is a classic reef fish ID book; you'll be an expert at the end of the trip. Humann left his law firm after diving a couple of times and spent years photographing reef fish, all ID's for you in the book. Lists Dinstinctive features, description, abundance and distribution & habitat & behaviors, and their reaction to divers/snorkelers.
(3) Here's some great websites I use all the time, each one has great photos of reef fish found throughout the caribbean. You could print them out through a color printer (hundreds of reef fish photos in these websites):
(a)CoralRealm- good site for fish ID and ecology, but you may have to pay to get on; I'm not sure.
(b)Division of Fishes - Smithsonian Institution- catalog of fishes deposited at the Smithsonian
(c)FishBase- online database of all described fishes (marine and freshwater)
(d)Florida Museum of Natural History, Ichthyology Department Gallery- a searchable gallery of underwater images
(e)Guide to Field Guides- a very comprehensive listing of field guides by subject including fish
(f)Marine Life Learning Center - New World Publications - reef fish quizzes and identification tips
(g)Nature Gallery- a personal webpage with a great gallery of photos from Florida including fish
(h)Pennekamp Reef Fish - photos of reef fish
(i) I quite often see sea turtles while diving; you may snorkeling too. So, try SeaTurtle.org- home of the Sea Turtle newsletter and a main portal for online sea turtle resources

Just tap the names into Yahoo search engine and you'll get their websites, each has great color photos of fish and turtles you may see in the Caribbean waters. Hope this helps; if you research all of the above, you may as well pursue your marine biologist degree! Always there to create more awareness of our oceans!! Robert

Here's the book I use: http://www.fishid.com/cgi-bin/shop.c...ssion=O4kcpa6z
Its the perfect small size and yes, the pages are waterproof, even though they feel like regular paper. Gives actual photos of adult and juvenile versions, instead of drawings. Very helpful! It has more pictures than just those plastic cards with the many drawings of fish. Its been in my snorkel bag for years, and exposed to much salt water, but still in great shape so it holds up well.

Snowrooster; yes, Tamara and curisntigger's offer nice resources. Here's some fun, before you even go down there to snorkel, tap this and take the extensive reef fish ID quiz. You could even use the resources we all have suggested to help ID these reef fish seen throughout the caribbean. Get the books we've reco'd and get online. See if you can pass the reef fish quiz on: (http://fishid.com/cgi-bin/quiz.cgi?action=init). Good luck, Robert

For Fish, Creatures, Coral and Marine Plant identification around St. John, and other nearby islands, go to www.snorkelstj.com and click on the ID Gallery link on the top menu bar.