Tiny doctors of the reef. Climb into moray eel mouths to pick parasites from teeth and gills.
Cleaner shrimp run the reef's most charismatic cleaning stations — the scarlet cleaner (Lysmata amboinensis) waves long white antennae to advertise service to client fish, and the coral banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) does similar work with bold red-and-white banding.
Client fish — morays, groupers, even reef sharks — open mouths and flare gills to let cleaner shrimp pick parasites from teeth, tongue and gill rakers. The behaviour is so trusted that morays let their open mouths be cleaned without snapping.
Every reef destination — find a cave with a resident moray and you'll often find a cleaner station. Andaman, Maldives, Bali, Red Sea all reliable.
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 1Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Cleaner Shrimp here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 1Cleaner Shrimp here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 2Cleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 4Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Cleaner Shrimp here: Apr–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 3Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonCleaner Shrimp here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
Real, curated expeditions — or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter cleaner shrimp.
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 cleaner shrimp.
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 cleaner shrimp.
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