White Trevally - Pseudocaranx dentex - Large School in the Blue Waters of Ċirkewwa

A large school of White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) swimming through the clear blue Mediterranean waters of Ċirkewwa Marine Park, Malta, their silvery bodies reflecting turquoise underwater light.

This underwater photograph captures a large school of White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) swimming through the open blue waters of Ċirkewwa Marine Park, on the northwestern coast of Malta. Dozens of fish are visible at different distances from the camera, creating a striking impression of movement and depth. Their streamlined, laterally compressed bodies reflect shades of silver, turquoise and blue-green, while their deeply forked tails and pointed fins are clearly visible against the darker Mediterranean water. Several individuals swim close together in the central part of the photograph, while others are more widely dispersed towards the edges, illustrating the coordinated but constantly changing formation of a schooling fish species.

The White Trevally belongs to the family Carangidae, which includes jacks, trevallies and related predatory fishes. It has a relatively deep, compressed body, a moderately rounded head, a large eye and a strongly forked tail adapted for efficient swimming. Its coloration is generally greenish-blue to grey above, with silvery flanks and a lighter underside. Some individuals display a faint yellowish longitudinal stripe and a darker marking near the upper part of the gill cover. White Trevally inhabit coastal and offshore marine environments, frequently occurring around rocky reefs, submerged structures and nearby open water. They feed on small fish, crustaceans and other marine invertebrates, often hunting in groups. The species has a broad distribution in warm-temperate and subtropical seas, including the Mediterranean. Although many individuals encountered by divers are of moderate size, White Trevally can grow considerably larger, with exceptional specimens exceeding one metre in length. Ċirkewwa Marine Park is known for its rocky underwater landscapes, steep drop-offs and rich Mediterranean marine life, making it an attractive location for observing schooling fish. This photograph highlights the beauty of a large trevally school moving together through the open water, with the reflective bodies creating a vivid contrast against the surrounding blue.