Coral-crunchers in technicolour. Their poop is the sand on the beach.
Parrotfish chew coral with beak-like fused teeth, digest the algae, and excrete pure white sand. A single large bumphead parrotfish can produce around 90 kg of sand per year. Most tropical beaches are largely parrotfish poop.
They change sex during their lifetime (female to male) and shift colour patterns dramatically. The huge bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) schools in groups of 20–50 and is one of the more impressive reef-fish sights at Sipadan and Andaman's outer reefs.
Night-diving them is special: they secrete a mucus cocoon around themselves to mask scent from predators. You can see them sleeping inside the transparent slime.
Tap a month to highlight it across destinations, or hover any cell for details.
18 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 1Parrotfish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Parrotfish here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 1Parrotfish here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Parrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 2Parrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 4Coming soonParrotfish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Parrotfish here: Apr–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 3Coming soonParrotfish here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonParrotfish here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonParrotfish here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonParrotfish here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonParrotfish here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonParrotfish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
Real, curated expeditions, or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter parrotfish.
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 parrotfish.
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 parrotfish.
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