Porcupinefish
DiodontidaeRound, spiny, and slightly goofy-looking, porcupinefish hover near overhangs and reef walls. When relaxed, their spines lie flat and they're surprisingly approachable. Never harass them into inflating — it's extremely stressful for the fish.
Last updated April 2026
PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix4 photos
A round, spiky fish covered in long sharp spines — inflates into a ball when threatened. Brown with dark spots and large, expressive eyes.
Swims slowly along reef edges, often resting under table corals at night — avoid touching, as the spines can cause painful injuries.
© Jouni Kuisma
© Jouni Kuisma
© Jouni Kuisma
© Jouni Kuisma
Every dive has a story. Share yours.
Log your dives - notes, photos, conditions and the marine life you saw - and share them as one public diver profile. What you share helps the next diver, too.
Log every detail
Depth, duration, conditions, gear, buddy, notes — all in one place. Import from Suunto and other dive computers.
Track marine life
Record species sightings on each dive. Build a personal catalogue of everything you've seen underwater.
Your public dive profile
Share your dive history, stats, and experiences with a profile page you control. Show the world where you've been.