Pufferfish with permanent spikes. Big eyes, comically gentle personality, and never to be made to inflate.
Porcupinefish are close relatives of pufferfish but with permanently protruding spines covering the body — they don't lay flat when relaxed (unlike puffers, whose spines only show when inflated). Big curious eyes, wide grins, and unusually gentle reactions to divers.
Like all pufferfish family members, they can inflate to several times their size when threatened — please don't trigger this. The behaviour exhausts them and is dangerous in shallow water where they can become disoriented.
Common at every Indo-Pacific reef destination. Andaman, Maldives, Bali, Komodo and Red Sea all have several species. They tolerate close approach and pose well.
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 1Porcupinefish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Porcupinefish here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 1Porcupinefish here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Porcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 2Porcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Porcupinefish here: Apr–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPorcupinefish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
Real, curated expeditions — or a custom trip built around the best season and destination to encounter porcupinefish.
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 porcupinefish.
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 porcupinefish.
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