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 → 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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