Animal Crossing New Horizons features a total of 40 sea creatures that can be caught. To catch deep-sea creatures, you'll need to purchase a wet suit. These can be bought from Nook's Cranny or the shopping app following the July 3, 2020 content update. You'll then be able to swim into the ocean (press A while standing next to water). Catch the creatures by diving above bubbling areas of water.
The variety of sea creatures available in the water surrounding your island depends on both time of day and time of year. Some sea creatures are, of course, rarer than others. The rarity of the sea creature is usually reflected in its sell price. Unlike bugs or fish, there are currently no NPCs that will purchase sea creatures for a higher price.
Want to narrow down this list to the sea creatures you can catch in the current month?
List of sea creatures in Animal Crossing New Horizons
Abalone
Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Jan
Months (Southern): Dec-Jul
Time: 4pm-9am
Acorn barnacle
Price: 600
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Chambered nautilus
Price: 1,800
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov
Months (Southern): Mar-May, Sep-Dec
Time: 4pm-9am
Dungeness crab
Price: 1,900
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Nov-May
Months (Southern): May-Nov
Time: Any
Firefly squid
Price: 1,400
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Mar-Jun
Months (Southern): Sep-Dec
Time: 9pm-4am
Flatworm
Price: 700
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Aug-Sep
Months (Southern): Feb-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Gazami crab
Price: 2,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Nov
Months (Southern): Dec-May
Time: Any
Giant isopod
Price: 12,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Jul-Oct
Months (Southern): Jan-Apr
Time: 9am-4pm, 9pm-4am
Gigas giant clam
Price: 15,000
Shadow Size: Huge
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: Any
Horseshoe crab
Price: 2,500
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jul-Sep
Months (Southern): Jan-Mar
Time: 9pm-4am
Lobster
Price: 4,500
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Apr-Jun, Dec-Jan
Months (Southern): Jun-Jul, Oct-Dec
Time: Any
Mantis shrimp
Price: 2,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: 4pm-9am
Moon jellyfish
Price: 600
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Jul-Sep
Months (Southern): Jan-Mar
Time: Any
Mussel
Price: 1,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Jun-Dec
Months (Southern): Dec-Jun
Time: Any
Octopus
Price: 1,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Oyster
Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Sep-Feb
Months (Southern): Mar-Aug
Time: Any
Pearl oyster
Price: 2,800
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Red king crab
Price: 8,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Mar
Months (Southern): May-Sep
Time: Any
Scallop
Price: 1,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea anemone
Price: 500
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea cucumber
Price: 500
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Nov-Apr
Months (Southern): May-Oct
Time: Any
Sea grapes
Price: 900
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): Jun-Sep
Months (Southern): Dec-Mar
Time: Any
Sea pig
Price: 10,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Feb
Months (Southern): May-Aug
Time: 4pm-9am
Sea pineapple
Price: 1,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Apr-Aug
Months (Southern): Oct-Feb
Time: Any
Sea slug
Price: 600
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea star
Price: 500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea urchin
Price: 1,700
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: Any
Seaweed
Price: 600
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): Oct-Jul
Months (Southern): Mar-Jan
Time: Any
Slate pencil urchin
Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Snow crab
Price: 6,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Apr
Months (Southern): May-Oct
Time: Any
Spider crab
Price: 12,000
Shadow Size: Huge
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Mar-Apr
Months (Southern): Sep-Aug
Time: Any
Spiny lobster
Price: 5,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Oct-Dec
Months (Southern): Apr-Jun
Time: 9pm-4am
Spotted garden eel
Price: 1,100
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): May-Oct
Months (Southern): Nov-Apr
Time: 4am-9pm
Sweet shrimp
Price: 1,400
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Sep-Feb
Months (Southern): Mar-Aug
Time: 4pm-9am
Tiger prawn
Price: 3,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Sep
Months (Southern): Dec-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Turban shell
Price: 1,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Mar-May, Sep-Dec
Months (Southern): Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov
Time: Any
Umbrella octopus
Price: 6,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Months (Southern): Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Time: Any
Vampire squid
Price: 10,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): May-Aug
Months (Southern): Nov-Feb
Time: 4pm-9am
Venus' flower basket
Price: 5,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Oct-Feb
Months (Southern): Apr-Aug
Time: Any
Whelk
Price: 1,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Thanks for using our Animal Crossing New Horizons sea creatures guide!