Palau Full Moon Spawning Liveaboard
Moorish idols, Bohar snappers, hundreds of sharks, manta rays, and blackwater night dives in Palau's legendary waters
$6,840USD per person
19th - 29th January, 2029
Discover Palau’s Full Moon Spawning
Join Pixel Expeditions aboard Palau Siren for 10 nights to witness one of the ocean's rarest natural events: the full moon combo spawning of Moorish idols and Bohar snappers (Lutjanus bohar). Timed to the full moon in the peak months of January and February, this expedition places you in the water when thousands of fish gather to aggregate and spawn, drawing in hundreds of grey reef sharks, bull sharks, and oceanic blacktips, plus manta rays arriving at German Channel to mate.
Your 10-night Liveaboard Adventure With Pixel Expeditions
This expedition truly is an opportunity to see something unique, with the chance to witness thousands of Moorish idols and Bohar snappers aggregating, with hundreds of grey reef sharks patrolling the reef alongside them. Beyond the spawning sites, the expedition dives both the north and south of Palau, covering world-class walls, blue holes, caverns, and German Channel for manta ray encounters. After dark, blackwater night dives reveal a migration of deep-sea creatures unlike anything seen on the reef.
This is a journey for experienced divers seeking the ultimate combination of adventure and marine spectacle.
A Day in Palau
A typical day on this expedition includes up to 4 dives, including early morning or night dives timed with spawning events:
Light breakfast → briefing → Dive 1
Full breakfast → relaxation → briefing → Dive 2
Lunch → relaxation → briefing → Dive 3
Snack → relaxation → briefing → Dive 4 (sunrise, sunset, or night dive for spawning)
Dinner & downtime
*When land tours are included, only 3 dives per day are possible.
Water temperature ranges from 81–86°F (27–30°C), and a 3mm wetsuit is usually sufficient. Note that during January and February, cold thermoclines can occasionally push temperatures down to 65–70°F (23–26°C), so packing a 5mm is advisable.
Dive sites are mostly in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (UNESCO World Heritage Site), with some dives at Peleliu. Skiffs transport groups to dive sites in 5–15 minutes. Currents can be strong, and reef hooks are recommended for outer-wall dives such as the famous Blue Corner.
Moorish Idol & Twin Spot Snapper Aggregations
This expedition focuses on two spectacular spawning events:
Moorish Idol Aggregation (Zanclus cornutus): During January and February, thousands of Moorish idols gather at several of Palau's most famous dive sites in one of the ocean's most dramatic yet least understood animal behaviours. Little is known about how or exactly when they spawn, as witnessing the spawning act itself is rare; but the highlight is unmistakable… hundreds of grey reef sharks converge on the reef in pursuit, patrolling through the blue water in search of the precise moment the fish move off to spawn. We will dive three to four aggregation sites over multiple days to maximise your chances.
Bohar Snapper Spawning (Lutjanus bohar) Leading up to the full moon, thousands of Bohar snappers gather at Palau's outer promontories. These early sunrise dives are a pure adrenaline experience! As light breaks, the snappers begin a ritual courtship dance before surging off into the blue to spawn, a spectacle that can last up to an hour, with bull sharks and blacktip sharks in close pursuit. This is an advanced dive.
Beyond The Spawning
This expedition is not only about the spawning events. Palau has world-class diving on offer, with two main highlights being:
Blackwater Night Dives Each night, an estimated hundred million tonnes of biomass rises from the mesopelagic depths toward the surface — the largest daily animal migration on the planet. By suspending lights at 15m over water more than 1,000m deep, we drop into the open ocean to intercept this migration, encountering larval fish, diamond squid, paper nautilus, and creatures rarely seen by divers. We run both open-ocean blackwater dives and bonfire dives closer to the reef throughout the expedition.
Manta Rays at German Channel January and February coincide with manta ray mating season at German Channel. This expedition gives you the chance to observe two distinct behaviours — feeding and cleaning — as well as the rarely seen mating train, where males chase a female in pursuit of a mate.
Your Liveaboard: Palau Siren
Launched in 2012, the 40 m Palau Siren is handcrafted from ironwood and teak, designed by divers for divers. She carries 16 guests in 8 private cabins, each with ensuite bathrooms, flexible bedding, and air-conditioning.
Onboard amenities include:
Spacious dive deck with personal storage, rinse tanks, and hot water showers
Air-conditioned saloon with cocktail bar, seating, TV, and camera prep areas
Covered dining deck
Two skiffs for dive transfers
Nitrox, equipment rental, kayaks, laundry, and massage services
Between dives, enjoy meals on the outdoor deck or relax in the saloon while preparing camera equipment. Palau Siren ensures comfort, safety, and expedition capability for the ultimate Palau experience.
Pixel Expeditions
delivers more than a liveaboard
We deliver a true adventure to Palau’s rare full moon spawning events and iconic reefs.
Adventure is calling. Will you answer?
What’s Included in Your Palau Liveaboard?
From $6,840 USD per person
Transfers between Koror Airport or hotel and the vessel
Full board accommodation including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee, fruit juice, and soft drinks
Up to 4 dives daily11
litre (AL80) cylinder with air fills
Weights and weight belt
Obligatory surcharges:
Palau Islands State Permits & Taxes (10 nights: 300 USD)
Goods & Services Tax (applies to on-board purchases)
Not Included:
Flights, hotels, and additional transfers
Equipment rental (reef hooks & SMBs not available to rent; bring your own or purchase onboard)
Nitrox
Beer, cocktails, wine & spirits
Crew and dive guide gratuities
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Full Moon Spawning is a rare marine event where thousands of Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) and Bohar snappers (Lutjanus bohar) aggregate during the full moon period in January and February. While witnessing the spawning act itself is rare, the aggregations draw in hundreds of grey reef sharks, bull sharks, and oceanic blacktips, creating one of the most dramatic predator-prey spectacles in the ocean.
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This expedition is designed for experienced divers comfortable with drift dives and strong currents. While novice divers may enjoy parts of the trip, witnessing the full moon spawning and some advanced dive sites requires solid scuba skills and comfort in open water.
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The 10-night liveaboard includes full-board accommodation, transfers between Koror Airport or hotel and the vessel, up to 4 dives per day, 11-litre air cylinders, weights, and weight belts. The spawning itinerary fee is included, along with unlimited soft drinks, coffee, tea, and fruit juice.
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Divers should bring personal dive equipment including reef hooks and SMBs, cameras for underwater photography, and suitable dive gear. Nitrox is available for purchase onboard, but optional extras like alcohol, gratuities, and equipment rental are not included.
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Blackwater diving takes place offshore over water more than 1,000 metres deep. Lights are suspended at around 15m, attracting microscopic zooplankton and, with them, an extraordinary array of deep-sea creatures that rise to the surface each night. It is a completely different experience to reef diving and one of the most surreal encounters available in Palau. We run both open-ocean and bonfire (reef-adjacent) versions during the expedition.
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Witnessing the actual spawning moment is rare and cannot be guaranteed as it happens at an unpredictable instant when the aggregation suddenly moves off into open water. What we can reliably offer is the aggregation itself and the extraordinary shark behaviour it triggers, which many divers consider the true highlight of the expedition.