Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures guide - How, when and where to catch them

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures are a new collectible for the game, and are all based in the depths of the ocean. These underwater dwellers are here to stay with the arrival of Animal Crossing: New Horizons swimming, wetsuits and snorkels. 

In order to start collecting these new Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures, you'll need to learn how to swim in Animal Crossing: New Horizons first. But here's a TL;DR version:

(Image credit: Nintendo)
  1. Grab a wetsuit from the Nook's Cranny cabinet, Nook Shopping or Nook Miles Rewards
  2. Put on your wetsuit
  3. Go to the beach or rocks near the ocean
  4. Press A to get in the sea
  5. Press A to swim
  6. Press Y to dive when near bubbles rising to the surface
  7. Move over the shadow using A to swim
  8. Once over the top, you'll automatically dive down to grab your prize

So with that knowledge in hand, please find a work-in-progress guide to every Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creature available in the game, broken down by hemisphere.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Sea Creatures - N.Hemisphere

Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures in the Northern Hemisphere

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Header Cell - Column 0 NameSeasonTime
1SeaweedJan-Jul, Oct-DecAll hours
2Sea GrapesJun-SeptAll hours
3Sea CucumberJan-Apr, Nov-DecAll hours
4Sea PigNov-Feb4PM-9AM
5Sea StarAll year roundAll hours
6Sea UrchinMay-SeptAll hours
7Slate Pencil UrchiinMay-Sept4PM-9AM
8Sea AnemoneAll year roundAll hours
9Moon JellyfishJul-SeptAll hours
10Sea SlugAll year roundAll hours
11Pearl OysterAll year roundAll hours
12MusselJun-DecAll hours
13OysterJan-Feb, Sept-DecAll hours
14ScallopAll year roundAll hours
15WhelkAll year roundAll hours
16Turban ShellMar-May, Sept-DecAll hours
17AbaloneJun-Jan4PM-9AM
18Gigas Giant ClamMay-SeptAll hours
19Chambered NautilusMar-June, Sept-Nov4PM-9AM
20OctopusAll year roundAll hours
21Umbrella OctopusMar-May, Sept-NovAll hours
22Vampire SquidMay-Aug4PM-9AM
23Firefly SquidMar-Jun9PM-4AM
24Gazami CrabJun-NovAll hours
25Dungeness CrabNov-MayAll hours
26Snow CrabNov-AprAll hours
27Red King CrabNov-MarAll hours
28Acorn BarnacleAll year roundAll hours
29Spider CrabMar-AprAll hours
30Tiger PrawnJun-Sept4PM-9AM
31Sweet ShrimpJan-Feb, Sept-Dec4PM-9AM
32Mantis ShrimpAll year round4PM-9AM
33Spiny LobsterOct-Dec9PM-4AM
34LobsterApr-Jun, Dec-JanAll hours
35Giant IsopodJul-Oct9AM-4PM, 9PM-4AM
36Horseshoe CrabJul-Sept4PM-9AM
37Sea PineappleApr-AugAll hours
38Spotted Garden EelMay-Oct4AM-9PM
39FlatwormAug-Sept4AM-9PM
40Venus' Flower BasketOct-FebAll hours

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Sea Creatures - S.Hemisphere

Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures in the Southern Hemisphere

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Drag and scroll to see the full table
Header Cell - Column 0 NameSeasonTime
1SeaweedApr-JanAll hours
2Sea GrapesJan-Mar, DecAll hours
3Sea CucumberMay-OctAll hours
4Sea PigTBC4PM-9AM
5Sea StarAll year roundAll hours
6Sea UrchinJan-Mar, Nov-DecAll hours
7Slate Pencil UrchiinJan-Mar, Nov-Dec4PM-9AM
8Sea AnemoneAll year roundAll hours
9Moon JellyfishJan-MarAll hours
10Sea SlugAll year roundAll hours
11Pearl OysterAll year roundAll hours
12MusselDec-JunAll hours
13OysterMar-AugAll hours
14ScallopAll year roundAll hours
15WhelkAll year roundAll hours
16Turban ShellTBCAll hours
17AbaloneDec-Jul4PM-9AM
18Gigas Giant ClamNov-MarAll hours
19Chambered NautilusTBC4PM-9AM
20OctopusAll year roundAll hours
21Umbrella OctopusTBCAll hours
22Vampire SquidNov-Feb4PM-9AM
23Firefly SquidTBC9PM-4AM
24Gazami CrabDec-MayAll hours
25Dungeness CrabMay-NovAll hours
26Snow CrabMay-OctAll hours
27Red King CrabTBCAll hours
28Acorn BarnacleAll year roundAll hours
29Spider CrabTBCAll hours
30Tiger PrawnDec-Mar4PM-9AM
31Sweet ShrimpMar-Aug4PM-9AM
32Mantis ShrimpAll year round4PM-9AM
33Spiny LobsterTBC9PM-4AM
34LobsterJun-Jul, Oct-DecAll hours
35Giant IsopodJan-Apr9AM-4PM, 9PM-4AM
36Horseshoe CrabJan-Mar4PM-9AM
37Sea PineappleOct-FebAll hours
38Spotted Garden EelNov-Apr4AM-9PM
39FlatwormTBC4AM-9PM
40Venus' Flower BasketTBCAll hours
Sam Loveridge
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Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.