Official circular logo of Ankla Azul Diving Center, featuring a wave, anchor, dive flag, and the text "It's more than just kicking your fins."

Let’s Plan Your Dive

King Angelfish

Pacific Fish ID

Holacanthus passer

King Angelfish | Ankla Azul
King Angelfish | Ankla Azul

Adult

Family: Angelfishes (Pomacanthidae)
Size: Up to 35 cm (14 in) | Common: 15 cm
Depth: 4 – 30m (12 – 100ft)
Distribution: Tropical Eastern Pacific (Gulf of California to Peru).

Identification:
The royal highness of the sea. This fish is known for its bold personality and stunning colors.

  • Appearance: Males and females look identical, displaying a large body with bright colors that outshine a rainbow. They are curious and often approach divers to show off.
  • Juveniles: Young individuals look different from adults and often act as cleaners for other species.

Behavior:
The “Noble Barber” of the reef.

  • Shark Cleaner: One of their most fascinating behaviors is cleaning. It is common to find juveniles (and adults) cleaning ectoparasites off massive Hammerhead Sharks, Manta Rays, and other large fishes.
  • Relationships: They are the romantic power couple of the ocean. They are monogamous and form pairs that can last a lifetime. Females are territorial and form strong bonds with males, spawning daily throughout the lunar cycle.

You just learned about this fish…

NOW COME SEE IT!

Dive

Already certified? Let our expert guides find these creatures for you.

Book a Dive

Courses

Want to learn more? Take the Fish Identification Specialty or advance your skills with us.

Get Certified

Try

First time? No experience needed. Take your first breath underwater and meet the fish face-to-face.

Start Here

Behind the Lens

Jalvan

Underwater Photographer & Instructor

Documenting unique marine biodiversity from the Red Sea across the Pacific Ocean. Dedicated to creating a visual catalog of Bahia Solano’s marine life for conservation and research.

Photography: Sony A7C II | Olympus EPL10
Video: Osmo Action 5 Pro | GoPro

Follow my work:




REFERENCES & DATA SOURCES

  • Scientific ID: Verified via FishBase.
  • Field Guide: Reef Fish Identification: Baja to Panama (Humann & DeLoach).
  • Regional Data: Ankla Azul Marine Observation Log (Bahia Solano).

More Than Kicking Your Fins

At Ankla Azul, diving is more than kicking your fins. It’s patient teaching, sharp safety, and real care for the place we call home. As an SSI Instructor Training Center and an SSI Blue Oceans Center (2025 award), we blend skill-building with ocean awareness—Fish ID, coral nursery work, community education, and rescue support—so every dive grows confidence and respect for Bahía Solano’s wild Pacific.