WELCOME TO 100 FISH ID
PLAN YOUR DIVE ON ALLIGATOR REEF
Alligator Ledge, within Alligator SPA off Islamorada, FL, is ~320 yards long and runs from Mooring Ball 0 thru Mooring Ball 4. The maximum depth is ~28 ft and the top of the ledge is at ~15 ft. A sandy area separates the ledge from rubble, octocoral, sea grass habitats. You will find ~80 species of fish congregating on, in and near the ledge. Look for the other species in the sand, rubble, and hiding in the octocoral/sea grass beds. Don't forget to look up & around to see pelagic species swimming thru - Great Hammerhead & Bonnethead Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, Permits and Ceros have all been seen swimming by Alligator Ledge.
THE LEDGE
Look for angelfish, barracuda, damselfish, gobies, groupers, grunts, parrotfish, snappers, squirrelfish, doctorfish, wrasses & others fish species...
Spend ~50% of your dive along the ledge between ball 0 - 3
Fish ID Target: +80 fish species along, in & around the Ledge
THE SANDY / RUBBLE AREAS
IN THE SAND: Look for jawfish, dartfish, rays, tilefish, flounders, goatfish, hogfish, wrasses, blennies & gobies...
IN THE RUBBLE: Look for razorfish, wrasses, seabass, pufferfish, bluelip & greenblotch parrotfish, rainbow wrasse...
Spend ~30% of your dive looking in the sand & rubble areas
Fish ID Target: 14-18 species of fish in the Sand/Rubble Areas
OCTOCORALS & SEA GRASS BEDS
Look for trumpetfish, slender filefish, parrotfish, eels...
Spend ~20% of your dive looking in these habitats
Fish ID Target: 6-8 fish species in the Octocorals/Sea Grass
Check your survey & finish your dive in the habitat where you are missing fish!
ALWAYS FOLLOW SAFE DIVING PRACTICES