The first fish that comes to investigate you on the rocks at Ocotal will very likely be this one. Deep slate blue, a clean white stripe behind the head, orange tail, and every fin edged in a blue that seems plugged in.
Where you’ll see it
Every rocky reef and headland from Coco south, and around the Catalina Islands. It is a fish of rocks rather than sand and stays close to cover.
What to know
Angelfish are bold and curious and often approach snorkellers to have a look. Adults pair up and defend a patch of reef. Juveniles are a different colour, with blue and orange bars, and are often mistaken for a different species. The Pacific coast of Costa Rica has fewer coral reefs than the Caribbean but the rocky reefs here are busy, and this is their star.
