Curious puffballs with armour. Don't make them inflate — it stresses them.
Pufferfish are slow, curious reef residents with the famous defence of inflating to several times their normal size when threatened. Modern reef etiquette is firm: don't cause them to inflate — it's exhausting and stressful for the fish.
They're common across the Indo-Pacific — true puffers like the boxy Arothron species and the spectacular Map Pufferfish (Arothron mappa), alongside their close relatives the porcupinefish (family Diodontidae, with prominent spines). Andaman, Maldives, Bali and Goa all hold multiple species.
Most are mildly toxic (tetrodotoxin in skin/organs); a few are deadly — the species used for fugu in Japan. They're entirely safe to dive with, just don't handle them.
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 1Pufferfish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Pufferfish here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 1Pufferfish here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Pufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 2Pufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPufferfish here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Pufferfish here: Apr–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPufferfish here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPufferfish here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPufferfish here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonPufferfish here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPufferfish here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonPufferfish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
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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 pufferfish.
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