A probe for recognition of IIB (Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+) and VIB (Cr3+) was developed based on the framework of BODIPY. The probe was synthesized by attaching DPA to 4-position of BODIPY. It exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity function for the IIB and VIB metal ions with 1:1 stoichiometry in acetonitrile solution. The limit of detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cr3+ were obtained by fluorescence turn-on and ranged from 20.6 to 23.1nM. Other metal cations did not interfere with the emission sensing of Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cr3+. The underlying mechanism of fluorescence turn-on is based on the intramolecular PET, which controlled the fluorescence on or off.