retrogameindex
New Leaf adventure archiveAnimal Crossing: New LeafGUIDES

New Leaf Deep-sea creatures: All 30 with Prices & Months

New Leaf added swimming and diving, and with them 30 sea creatures you catch by hand. Here is every one with its picture, price, shadow, speed, time and months.

Total
30
All year
12
Island only
3
Top price
12,000 Bells
Cheapest
100 Bells
The New Leaf museum aquarium
Deep-sea creatures get their own tanks in the museum.

How diving works

  • Buy a wet suit on Tortimer Island (40 medals, not always in stock) to dive in town; on the island Lloid also rents one out.
  • Face the sea and press A to jump in from the beach, the dock or a cliff, then press Y to dive.
  • Look for shadows and bubbles. Small, slow shadows are easy; big, fast ones like crabs and lobsters need chasing.
  • Swim over the shadow while underwater and press A to grab it. Tortimer Island has summer creatures in every month.

30 deep-sea creatures

All 30 deep-sea creatures

CreatureSells forShadowTimeMonths
SeaweedSeaweedAlso on the island200Large shadow, stationaryAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea grapesSea grapesAlso on the island600Small shadow, stationaryAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea urchinSea urchinAlso on the island800Small shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Acorn barnacleAcorn barnacleAlso on the island200Very small shadow, stationaryAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
OysterOyster400Small shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Turban shellTurban shell300Small shadow, slow4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
AbaloneAbaloneAlso on the island400Medium shadow, medium4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Ear shellEar shellAlso on the island300Small shadow, slow4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
ClamClam300Small shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Pearl oysterPearl oyster1,600Small shadow, mediumAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
ScallopScallopAlso on the island1,000Medium shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea anemoneSea anemoneAlso on the island100Medium shadow, stationaryAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea starSea starAlso on the island100Small shadow, very slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea cucumberSea cucumber150Medium shadow, very slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Sea slugSea slugAlso on the island200Small shadow, very slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
FlatwormFlatwormAlso on the island200Small shadow, very slow4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Mantis shrimpMantis shrimpAlso on the island1,250Small shadow, erratic4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Sweet shrimpSweet shrimp650From 16 September in its first monthSmall shadow, slow4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Tiger prawnTiger prawnAlso on the island1,600Small shadow, medium4 PM–9 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Spiny lobsterSpiny lobster3,000From 16 September in its first monthLarge shadow, fast9 PM–4 AMJFMAMJJASOND
LobsterLobsterAlso on the island2,500Large shadow, fastAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Snow crabSnow crab4,000Large shadow, fastAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Horsehair crabHorsehair crab4,000Medium shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Red king crabRed king crab6,000Large shadow, very fastAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Spider crabSpider crab12,000Huge shadow, very fastAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
OctopusOctopusAlso on the island1,000Medium shadow, slowAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Spotted garden eelSpotted garden eelIsland only600Small shadow, slowTortimer Island onlyAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Chambered nautilusChambered nautilusIsland only900Medium shadow, mediumTortimer Island onlyAll dayJFMAMJJASOND
Horseshoe crabHorseshoe crab1,500Medium shadow9 PM–4 AMJFMAMJJASOND
Giant isopodGiant isopodIsland only9,000Medium shadow, slowTortimer Island onlyAll dayJFMAMJJASOND

Most valuable deep-sea creatures

  1. Spider crab: 12,000 Bells (Huge shadow, Mar–Apr)
  2. Giant isopod: 9,000 Bells (Medium shadow, All year)
  3. Red king crab: 6,000 Bells (Large shadow, Nov–Mar)
  4. Snow crab: 4,000 Bells (Large shadow, Nov–Apr)
  5. Horsehair crab: 4,000 Bells (Medium shadow, Nov–Apr)
  6. Spiny lobster: 3,000 Bells (Large shadow, Sep–Dec)
  7. Lobster: 2,500 Bells (Large shadow, All year)
  8. Pearl oyster: 1,600 Bells (Small shadow, All year)
  9. Tiger prawn: 1,600 Bells (Small shadow, Jun–Sep)
  10. Horseshoe crab: 1,500 Bells (Medium shadow, Jul–Sep)

FAQ

How do you catch deep-sea creatures in New Leaf?

Get a wet suit: Grams sometimes sells one on Tortimer Island for 40 medals, and Lloid rents them out on the island. Face the sea and press A to jump in, swim over a shadow or bubbles, press Y to dive and A to grab.

How many deep-sea creatures are there?

30. They are new in New Leaf and have their own wing at the museum.

What is the most valuable deep-sea creature?

The spider crab, at 12,000 Bells, only in March and April. The giant isopod (9,000) is only found around Tortimer Island.

Which deep-sea creatures are island only?

Spotted garden eel, Chambered nautilus, Giant isopod.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Nookipedia and the Animal Crossing Wiki. Icons, renders and screenshots © Nintendo; local copies archived from Animal Crossing Wiki file pages (listed in the picture gallery).