Long-antennae reef sentinels. Spiny lobsters wave from caves by day, march in single-file at night.
Spiny lobsters (Panulirus spp.) lack the large claws of cold-water lobsters but compensate with massively long sweeping antennae and a fan of armoured spines on the carapace. Slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) are flatter, with paddle-shaped antennae.
Daytime: tucked into reef caves with antennae sweeping at the entrance. Night: out hunting crustaceans and molluscs across the reef. Some species perform annual single-file migrations across sand, visually spectacular when divers encounter the march.
Reliable at every Indo-Pacific destination, Andaman, Maldives, Bali, Red Sea, Komodo. Night dives reveal active hunting; day dives produce cave-portrait photography.
Tap a month to highlight it across destinations, or hover any cell for details.
13 destinations across Goa, Andamans, SE Asia, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, East Africa, peak seasons vary by location, so plan your trip around the right destination AND the right month.
Tier 1Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 2Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 2Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Spiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 4Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonSpiny & Slipper Lobsters here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Real, curated expeditions, or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter spiny & slipper lobsters.
Browse our curated, small-group dive trips, fixed dates, vetted partner operators, zero agency fee. Or tell us your dates and we'll build a custom trip around the best season and destinations to encounter spiny & slipper lobsters.
Tell us when you can travel and your certification level, we'll match the right destination, the right season, and the right trip for diving with lobsters.
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