fish
Bluestripe snapper.
Lutjanus kasmira · also: Blueline snapper
One of the most photogenic reef fish in the Maldives, draping coral heads and wrecks in dense, shimmering golden clouds streaked with electric-blue lines. These tight daytime schools break up at night, when individuals scatter over the sand to hunt. Their reliable aggregations make them a favourite of photographers.
Size
~40 cm
Weight
Small — reaches ~40 cm.
Diet
Fish, shrimps, crabs, cephalopods and planktonic crustaceans; some algae.
Lifespan
Around 10 years.
Depth
3–265 m; commonly to ~60 m.
Reproduction
Matures at 1–2 years; spawns year-round, peaking ~Nov–Dec.
Snorkel or dive
Snorkel + dive
Best season
Year-round
Conservation
Least Concern
How to recognise it
Bright yellow body with four horizontal blue stripes; whitish belly.
Behaviour
Forms dense photogenic daytime schools around coral heads and overhangs; disperses at night.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Ubiquitous on reefs throughout the atolls — large stationary schools on nearly any house reef or thila.
Conservation
Locally fished but abundant and not threatened.
IUCN · Least Concern
Watch them responsibly
Approach schools slowly from the side so they stay tight rather than scattering; no touching.
Introduced to Hawaii in the 1950s, where it became the most abundant introduced reef fish.
Introduced to Hawaiian waters in the 1950s, where it became an invasive species.
Collective noun: a school of snapper
Want to dive with bluestripe snapper?
Our Maldives specialists match you to the right atoll, season and resort.
Sightings are typical, not guaranteed — encounters vary with season and conditions.