Best Pelagic

The whale shark is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. Found in tropical and warm-temperate ocean waters worldwide, it can reach lengths of approximately 18 meters. The species feeds primarily on plankton and small nekton by filtering water through i...

The shortfin mako shark is a large mackerel shark belonging to the family Lamnidae, inhabiting offshore temperate and tropical seas worldwide. It is recognized as the fastest known shark species, capable of bursts reaching up to 50 miles per hour to capture agile prey such as tuna and swordfish. As...

The violet blanket octopus, Tremoctopus violaceus, is a pelagic cephalopod that lives in tropical and subtropical open oceans. It displays extreme sexual dimorphism: adult females can approach two metres in total length, whereas males remain only a few centimetres long. Females have expansive membra...

The glass octopus, Vitreledonella richardi, is a pelagic cephalopod in the family Vitreledonellidae that inhabits tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Its body is almost entirely transparent, with the digestive organs and eyes among the few clearly visible structures, an adaptation that...

The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a large species of hammerhead shark in the family Sphyrnidae found in warm, temperate, and tropical coastal waters worldwide. It is physically distinguished by its hammer-shaped cephalofoil, which features a distinctively scalloped or curved front margin....

Otodus megalodon was a giant extinct lamniform shark that lived from the Miocene into the Pliocene, roughly 23 to 3.6 million years ago. It is known mainly from very large teeth and fossilized vertebral centra, so estimates of its maximum body length remain uncertain. Its robust, serrated teeth indi...

The Portuguese man o' war, Physalia physalis, is a pelagic hydrozoan composed of specialized individuals functioning together as a colony, rather than a single jellyfish. Its gas-filled float remains at the sea surface and acts like a sail, while long tentacles trail beneath it to capture fish and o...

Cyclopyge is a genus of trilobites from the Ordovician Period, recognized by exceptionally large compound eyes occupying much of the sides of the cephalon. It belonged to a group commonly interpreted as pelagic or deep-water trilobites rather than animals confined to the seafloor. The enlarged visua...

The giant phantom jellyfish, Stygiomedusa gigantea, is a rarely observed deep-sea scyphozoan found in oceans around the world. It has a bell that can approach one meter across and four broad, ribbonlike oral arms that may extend several meters, rather than the numerous slender tentacles associated w...

The spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular) is a large pelagic cartilaginous fish found in tropical and temperate oceans, including the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, and Indo-Pacific regions. It is distinguished by a prominent spine at the base of its tail and a dark dorsal coloration. Like other mobuli...

Carolinites is a genus of Ordovician trilobite characterized by very large compound eyes that provided a broad field of vision. Its remains occur in geographically widespread marine deposits, a distribution commonly interpreted as evidence that it lived in the open water column rather than remaining...

The Brothers Islands Reef represents a significant dive destination within Egypt’s Red Sea. This reef system centers around two small islands characterized by dramatic underwater topography including steep drop-offs. The presence of the wreck of the Aida adds to its allure. It is particularly appeal...

The common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is a large pelagic shark found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. It is the largest of the three living thresher shark species, reaching total lengths of up to approximately 6 meters, with its elongated upper caudal fin lobe accounting for roughl...

The seven-arm octopus, Haliphron atlanticus, is a large pelagic octopus in the family Alloposidae and occurs in deep and open waters across multiple oceans. Females can reach much greater sizes than males, making the species one of the heaviest known octopuses. Its common name refers to the male's s...

The sicklefin devil ray is a large pelagic cartilaginous fish found in tropical and subtropical oceans across the globe. Distinguished by its notably pointed, backward-curving pectoral fins, it is one of the larger species within the devil ray family. Like other mobulids, it is a filter feeder that...

Deepstaria enigmatica is a deep-sea jellyfish recognized by its unusually thin, broad bell, which can fold into a baglike form around prey. The species was formally described in 1967 and belongs to the family Ulmaridae within the true jellyfishes, or Scyphozoa. Because it inhabits deep pelagic water...

Architeuthis dux, commonly known as the giant squid, is a colossal cephalopod inhabiting deep ocean waters. It’s notable for being the largest invertebrate on Earth, with documented lengths exceeding 13 meters. These creatures are primarily found in pelagic zones and represent a significant part of...

The oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) is a large pelagic requiem shark found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It is distinguished by its long, paddle-like pectoral and dorsal fins, which feature characteristic white tips. The species was historically one of the most abund...

The blue shark, scientifically known as Prionace glauca, is a species of requiem shark found in deep, pelagic waters around the globe. It is distinguished by its slender body and deep blue coloration on its dorsal side. The species is known for extensive migratory patterns, capable of traveling acro...

Richelieu Rock is a limestone formation located within the Andaman Sea off Thailand’s coast. It's notable as one of the world’s premier dive sites, famed for its dense soft coral formations and consistent opportunities to observe whale sharks. The rock’s remote location contributes to exceptional vi...

The diamondback squid, scientifically known as Thysanoteuthis rhombus, is a large, pelagic cephalopod and the sole existing member of the family Thysanoteuthidae. It is easily identified by its massive, diamond-shaped fins that extend the entire length of its mantle, which can grow up to one meter....

The mauve stinger, Pelagia noctiluca, is a pelagic jellyfish in the class Scyphozoa, widely recorded in the Mediterranean Sea and adjoining Atlantic waters. Its bell and tentacles bear stinging cells that capture prey and can produce painful skin reactions in swimmers. The species is bioluminescent,...

Halitrephes maasi is a deep-sea hydromedusa in the family Halicreatidae, known from the open ocean at substantial depths. Remotely operated vehicles have recorded specimens whose radial canals reflect artificial light in vivid colors, producing a wheel-like appearance sometimes described as biolumin...

The neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) is a large species of pelagic squid found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It possesses a muscular mantle and can grow to considerable lengths, making it a significant target for commercial fisheries. Like other m...

The Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana) is a large pelagic ray found in tropical and subtropical oceans across the globe. Recognizable by its diamond-shaped disc that can exceed 3 meters in width, it is one of the largest species within the Mobulidae family. The species is distinguished by its abi...

Layang Layang Reef is a coral atoll located within the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Malaysia. It’s recognized for exceptionally deep surrounding waters supporting significant pelagic fish populations and abundant reef life. Divers and marine biologists studying tropical ecosystems find this locati...

Munk's pygmy devil ray (Mobula munkiana) is a small marine ray belonging to the family Mobulidae. Endemic to the eastern Pacific Ocean, this species is commonly found in the Gulf of California and along the coasts of Central and South America. It is distinguished by its relatively small size, reachi...

Alatina alata is a species of box jellyfish in the class Cubozoa, recorded from warm marine waters in several tropical and subtropical regions. It has a translucent, box-shaped bell and four muscular pedal structures from which its tentacles extend. The species is venomous and has been associated wi...

The smoothtail mobula (Mobula mobular), also known as the giant devil ray, is a pelagic ray species found in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It can reach a disc width of up to 3.5 meters and, unlike many of its relatives, lacks a tail spine. The species is listed as endangered on t...