There’s no denying that the sea has a timeless charm. From the captivating waves to the vibrant shades of blue and green, many people are naturally drawn to the sea. The world’s oceans are also home to a variety of fascinating animals. From little crabs and playful dolphins to ferocious sharks and majestic mermaids, the sea is teeming with wildlife and mystery.
While the ocean’s depths still hold many secrets, you can show your love for the sea by 3D printing beloved creatures like dolphins, sharks, and octopi. In this article, we’ve put together a list of the best printable sea creatures (and even included a beautiful mermaid).
If you want to bring the ocean’s creatures to life but don’t have a 3D printer at home, don’t fret! With Craftcloud, you can have your favorite aquatic prints swimming right to your door in no time. Now, let’s dive into our list!
Crab Pen Holder
This little crab is the perfect addition for your desk. Not only will it help you keep your favorite pen close at hand, but it will also melt your heart with its cuteness.
The quick print takes just 20 grams of filament and doesn’t require supports. You can even print its cute eyes and mouth in a different color to make it look more realistic.
- Who designed it? JustMattyMakes
- How printable/popular is it? With over 210 downloads and 10 shared makes, this model has plenty of fans.
- Where to find it? Printables
Dolphin Necklace
If you want modern jewelry with style, here’s the perfect solution. This necklace features a minimalist design inspired by one of the most beloved sea creatures: the dolphin.
Quick and easy to print, this dolphin will take less than 30 minutes and weighs less than 1 g! If you encounter stringing, the designer advises using a heat gun or some tweezers. For a unique metallic touch, print it in gold or bronze silk PLA or paint it yourself.
- Who designed it? Dan_Bliss_Design
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded around 660 times with 15 posted makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Octopus Tablet/Phone Stand
Who doesn’t love a good phone stand, especially when it features octopus tentacles? This cool stand has a unique aquatic shape, and it’s perfect for watching Jaws or other aquatic-themed movies on your device.
With your 3D printer, you can create this stand in just a few hours. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use supports.
- Who designed it? Yazhgar
- How printable/popular is it? With over 2,400 downloads and 4 shared makes, this model is quite popular.
- Where to find it? Cults
Mermaid
What list of sea creatures would be complete without a beautiful mermaid? These mythological figures have fascinated people throughout history, and they are the protagonists of countless stories. The iconic film The Little Mermaid inspired this model, for example.
The model is support-free, making it simple to print. You use can rainbow PLA for a stunning look, like this print. Or, use silk PLA to recreate the magical tail in all its glory.
- Who designed it? robin3dverse
- How printable/popular is it? Over 950 people have downloaded this model and more than 50 users have uploaded their makes across both sites.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Flying Sea Turtle
This mechanical sea turtle design was inspired by sea turtles the creator witnessed swimming during a snorkeling session. The graceful, waving movement of their limbs made the creator think they were flying, so they created a 3D printable flying sea turtle.
While this model may present some challenges while printing and assembling, there are instructions on the Thingiverse page and many makers have posted helpful comments. It’s suggested to lower the flow to 90 or 95% and print with a raft. After your turtle is assembled, you’ll want to add oil to moveable parts, especially the mechanism where the gears interlock.
- Who designed it? amaochan
- How printable/popular is it? With almost 300 posted makes, this model is really popular with the community.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Koi Fish Chopsticks Holder
You can’t miss this next model if you’re a sushi lover. This colorful fish chopstick holder will be the perfect accessory for your next dinner.
To print yourself some vibrant Koi fish, switch filament mid-print with your preferred shades. For the best result, try to use a clear filament for the water holder. The designer has provided four different fish models for greater customization. No wonder this model is one of the winners of the Printables’ “Chopsticks Holders” contest.
- Who designed it? 3Demon
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 130 times with 2 shared makes. It’s also part of 164 collections.
- Where to find it? Printables
Low-Poly Wall Shark
Talking about home decoration, if you like sharks, you can’t miss this next decorative model. The low-poly design is minimalist and modern, making it simple to mount on a wall.
With the original scale and spacing, it measures 395 mm once placed, so it’s a fairly big decoration. Of course, you can always scale it down to better fit your space. The designer has provided a template to test how it looks on your wall and to easily mark the drilling points. You’ll also find detailed printing instructions on the Printables page.
- Who designed it? Voxel
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 4,300 times with 42 posted makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Anglerfish with LED Bulb
Anglerfish are one of the most bizarre species on the planet, so we couldn’t leave it off our list. Even if you don’t live at the lonely, dark bottom of the sea, you’ll love having this fierce lamp around at night.
While it will require some work to achieve a realistic look, mainly with painting and installing the LED bulb, the final result will be worth it. The designer has provided some print settings, together with assembly and wiring instructions. You’ll need PLA filament, epoxy, an E12 LED bulb, 24AWG wire, a lamp cord with an on/off switch, and paint, along with sandpaper and a soldering iron.
- Who designed it? Evan
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 440 times and 3 people have uploaded their scary makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Origami Manta Ray
3D printing allows you to decorate your home in unique ways. Take, for example, this 2D origami art of a manta ray. You can print it and hang it in your living room as wall art or even use it for jewelry or other decorative purposes.
The model is customizable through OpenSCAD, so you can personalize it to create the exact model that you desire. You can even make it cooler by using a textured build plate, which will create a customized pattern on your manta. This manta is part of the designer’s origami series, which includes other sea creatures like a dolphin, shark, and seal, among others.
- Who designed it? MightyNozzle
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 240 times with 3 remixes shared so far.
- Where to find it? Cults, Thingiverse
Squid Citrus Juicer
Who doesn’t like cute and functional prints? Well, here comes the perfect squid citrus juicer. This fun model will be a big help in the kitchen, especially if you enjoy fresh orange juice in the morning.
At 100% scale, it measures 12 cm tall. A few hours will be all it takes to print this juicer and add it to your kitchen tools. The only thing to pay attention to is food safety. You’ll also need to use supports and a raft to ensure a successful print.
- Who designed it? IK3D
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded around 60 times and 2 people have uploaded their makes so far.
- Where to find it? Printables
License: The text of "Sea Creatures: Best STL Files For Mermaids, Fish & More" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.