Reef fish
Bluestripe snapper
Lutjanus kasmira
A bright yellow snapper marked with four electric-blue horizontal stripes, forming dense static schools that drape over reefs, overhangs and cleaning stations. A reliable, photogenic year-round resident that adds colour to nearly every reef dive.
- Max size
- ~40cm
- Habitat
- Reefs, caves, overhangs and wrecks
Best places to dive with Bluestripe snapper
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
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| December | commonly seen |
A schooling reef resident, present year-round on Baa's house reefs and thilas in dense static shoals.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Snapper school around the wrecks, particularly the larger hulls like the Okikawa Maru. Reliable year-round; the exact snapper species varies.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Dense schools of snapper and other reef fish cover the soft-coral walls.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Snappers and fusiliers school over the reefs at Hin Luk Bat and Hin Raab.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Bright yellow schools are a constant on Koh Tao's reefs and around the pinnacles, a common backdrop on most dives.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Dense schools on the reefs and wrecks.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Yellow-and-blue schools sit over the wrecks and around the pinnacles year-round in season, densest at Tokong Laut and on the Sugar Wreck. Along with fusiliers and scad, they are the main reason the wrecks still hold fish despite the coral damage on the surrounding reef.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Common bluestripe snapper, Wikipedia
- Bluestripe Snappers on the House Reef, Milaidhoo Maldives