This poster shows 169 fish species which are to be seen by scuba divers and underwater photographers on or near coral and rocky reefs of southern African coastal waters. Fish over 50 cm in length are shown at a scale of 4 cm to 50 cm. Fish under 50 cm are shown (with some exceptions) at approx. 2 cm per 10 cm in length. Protected species are indicated "spearing illegal" as in the case of the large potato bass. Where applicable, slow-growing species are indicated by the maximum weight shown together with the number of years it takes that species to attain maximum weight – up to 35 years in some species! The alphabetical co-ordinates ensure quick location of the species you may be searching for which is particularly important in a really very busy poster such as this one.
Among the fish families illustrated on this poster are anemonefish, angelfish, barracuda, blenny, butterflyfish, cardinal, emperor, fusilier, goatfish, goby, goldie, hawkfish, hogfish, jobfish, kingfish, moray, parrotfish, puffer, rockcod, rubberlip, seabream, squirrelfish, stonefish, surgeon, snapper, soapfish, sweeper, triplefin, unicornfish, and wrasse. The illustrations are by Elaine Heemstra and also appeared in Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa.