Palau Bumphead Spawning Trip 2028

Reefs

Jan 19, 2028 - Jan 26, 2028

Join Bluewater Travel for this brand new and unique itinerary offering the opportunity to photograph the amazing bumphead parrotfish spawning event in Palau.

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Free Photo Workshops

Off the Beaten Track

Why Join This Trip

The trip is scheduled to target the expected Bumphead Parrotfish Spawning date over the new moon
Experience Palau's thrilling drift dives and abundance of pelagics

Trip overview

This 7-night liveaboard adventure aboard the M/Y Black Pearl takes divers to the heart of Palau’s stunning Rock Islands and Southern Lagoon, offering a unique opportunity to witness the spectacular New Moon Bumphead Parrotfish spawning. Each day features 3–4 dives at some of the world’s most renowned sites, including the dramatic walls of Blue Corner, where strong currents bring schools of barracuda and reef sharks; the manta-rich waters of German Channel; and the narrow, coral-filled passage of Ulong Channel.

The bumphead parrotfish spawning

For more information, check out Liveaboard Diving in Palau.

Sample Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to weather and other conditions.

Day 1 – Embarkation
Guests are picked up from their hotel in Koror and transferred to Malakal Port for boarding. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed aboard the M/Y Black Pearl with a welcome drink and vessel orientation. A full safety briefing follows dinner. No diving is scheduled on the first day.
Days 2 – 3
Daily diving begins with 3–4 dives per day at Palau’s signature sites, including Blue Corner and German Channel. Strong currents attract large schools of fish, reef sharks, and manta rays. Optional night dives are available, conditions permitting. Evenings are spent relaxing onboard and enjoying the yacht’s amenities.
Day 4
Diving focuses on Ulong Channel and surrounding reef systems. Sites are selected based on tides, currents, and marine life activity, offering excellent drift diving and reef encounters. The day concludes with sunset views over the Rock Islands.
Days 5 – 6
Special dives are timed with the New Moon to witness the Bumphead Parrotfish spawning in the Southern Lagoon. Additional dives may include Chandelier Cave and nearby coral walls, providing opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography.
Day 7
Dives continue in surrounding lagoons, followed by additional dives at select sites chosen according to conditions and wildlife activity. Optional night dives and social activities onboard are available.
Last Day – Disembarkation
A final morning dive is offered if time and conditions allow, followed by breakfast onboard. Guests disembark at Malakal Port with transfers back to their hotel or Koror Airport.

Marine Life to Photograph

Palau is a paradise for underwater photographers, offering a dazzling diversity of marine life across its reefs, channels, and lagoons. Divers can capture schools of barracuda and trevally swirling in strong currents at Blue Corner, graceful manta rays gliding through German Channel, and the unique spectacle of Bumphead Parrotfish spawning in the Southern Lagoon. The rock walls of Ulong Channel and the coral gardens of the Rock Islands are alive with vibrant reef fish, including sweetlips, butterflyfish, and clownfish, alongside reef sharks, Napoleon wrasses, and occasional bull sharks. Macro enthusiasts will delight in colorful nudibranchs, shrimps, and seahorses. With such a range of species and behaviors, Palau provides endless creative possibilities for both wide-angle and macro underwater photography.

Diving Conditions

In January, diving in Palau offers warm water temperatures, though visibility can vary slightly due to seasonal currents. Weather-wise, January falls in the wetter season, bringing higher humidity and occasional rain showers, but conditions are generally stable, and diving remains very rewarding.

Water temperature: 80–82°F (27–28°C)
Visibility: 50–100 feet (15–30 m), with some variation depending on currents and rainfall
Depth range: 15–100 ft (5–30 m)