The lionfish is one of the most striking and most problematic animals on the reef: a beautiful invader with venomous spines and no natural predators in the Caribbean.
How to recognize it
Look for a slow-moving, fan-finned fish with bold red, brown and white stripes and long, feathery venomous spines fanning out around it.
Where and when to see it
In Isla Fuerte divers regularly spot it at Rosa vieja, Bajo humedo, Bajo alicia, Canal del ingles, Transilvania, Socorro, Bajo de los pargos, Fondo loco. Explore every site on our interactive dive map.
Diver's note
Its sting is painful but rarely dangerous. We never touch it, and through our conscious hunting specialty we help control the invasion.
Dive with respect
We practice good buoyancy and never touch or chase marine life. Watching an animal behave naturally is the whole point, and it keeps the reef of Isla Fuerte alive for the next diver.
