Many are different when the tail’s docked (6)
I believe the answer is:
divers
'many' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for divers that I've seen before include "competitors at the Olympic Games?" , "ducks" , "people taking the plunge" , "people going to bed?" , "Various for underwater workers?" .)