Palau Bumphead Spawning Trip 2028

Palau Bumphead Spawning Trip 2028

Join Bluewater Travel for this brand new and unique itinerary offering the opportunity to photograph the amazing bumphead parrotfish spawning event in Palau.

Why Join This Trip?

• The trip is scheduled to target the expected Bumphead Parrotfish Spawning date over the new moon
• Experience Palau's thrilling drift dives and abundance of pelagics
• Enjoy one of Palau's newest high-end liveaboards with FREE NITROX!
• Diver to Guide ratio is 6:1
• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
• Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure

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Trip Overview

This 7-night liveaboard adventure aboard the M/Y Black Pearl takes divers to the heart of Palau’s stunning Rock Islands and Southern Lagoon, offering a unique opportunity to witness the spectacular New Moon Bumphead Parrotfish spawning. Each day features 3–4 dives at some of the world’s most renowned sites, including the dramatic walls of Blue Corner, where strong currents bring schools of barracuda and reef sharks; the manta-rich waters of German Channel; and the narrow, coral-filled passage of Ulong Channel.

For more information, check out Liveaboard Diving in Palau.

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Sample Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to weather and other conditions.

Day 1 – Embarkation

• Guests are picked up from their hotel in Koror and transferred to Malakal Port for boarding.
• Upon arrival, guests are welcomed aboard the M/Y Black Pearl with a welcome drink and vessel orientation.
• A full safety briefing follows dinner.
• No diving is scheduled on the first day.

Days 2 – 3

• Daily diving begins with 3–4 dives per day at Palau’s signature sites, including Blue Corner and German Channel.
• Strong currents attract large schools of fish, reef sharks, and manta rays.
• Optional night dives are available, conditions permitting.
• Evenings are spent relaxing onboard and enjoying the yacht’s amenities.

Day 4

• Diving focuses on Ulong Channel and surrounding reef systems.
• Sites are selected based on tides, currents, and marine life activity, offering excellent drift diving and reef encounters.
• The day concludes with sunset views over the Rock Islands.

Days 5 – 6

• Special dives are timed with the New Moon to witness the Bumphead Parrotfish spawning in the Southern Lagoon.
• Additional dives may include Chandelier Cave and nearby coral walls, providing opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography.

Day 7

• Dives continue in surrounding lagoons, followed by additional dives at select sites chosen according to conditions and wildlife activity.
• Optional night dives and social activities onboard are available.

Last Day – Disembarkation

• A final morning dive is offered if time and conditions allow, followed by breakfast onboard.
• Guests disembark at Malakal Port with transfers back to their hotel or Koror Airport.

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Marine Life to Photograph

Palau is a paradise for underwater photographers, offering a dazzling diversity of marine life across its reefs, channels, and lagoons. Divers can capture schools of barracuda and trevally swirling in strong currents at Blue Corner, graceful manta rays gliding through German Channel, and the unique spectacle of Bumphead Parrotfish spawning in the Southern Lagoon. The rock walls of Ulong Channel and the coral gardens of the Rock Islands are alive with vibrant reef fish, including sweetlips, butterflyfish, and clownfish, alongside reef sharks, Napoleon wrasses, and occasional bull sharks. Macro enthusiasts will delight in colorful nudibranchs, shrimps, and seahorses. With such a range of species and behaviors, Palau provides endless creative possibilities for both wide-angle and macro underwater photography.

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Diving Conditions

In January, diving in Palau offers warm water temperatures, though visibility can vary slightly due to seasonal currents. Weather-wise, January falls in the wetter season, bringing higher humidity and occasional rain showers, but conditions are generally stable, and diving remains very rewarding.

• Water temperature: 80–82°F (27–28°C)
• Visibility: 50–100 feet (15–30 m), with some variation depending on currents and rainfall
• Depth range: 15–100 ft (5–30 m)

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Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Palau, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF!

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Trip Type

This trip is a Photo Workshop. Led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.

What to Expect From Our Photo Workshops

• Daily photo workshops - Your photo instructor will schedule seminars each day on topics including, but not limited to, equipment type and selection, the concept of underwater photography, lighting and composition techniques, and post-processing. They will also include additional topics relevant to the location and your experience.
• In-water support - Where possible, each dive group will spend time underwater with the photo instructor, receiving in-water support and guidance on their shooting techniques. Participants can also request in-water assistance during the workshop and the photo instructor will do his or her best to accommodate all requests.
• Consecutive days of practice & review - Each day you will have the opportunity to practice the techniques and skills learned in the previous day’s tutorials. If you are new to underwater photography you will likely see a vast improvement in just a few days.
• Daily photo image reviews - You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop, a thumb drive, edit your photos, and submit your shots for review from both the instructor and your peers. These are fun and interactive sessions encouraging you to improve throughout the trip.
• Quality time with fellow photographers - Both new and experienced photographers from past workshops have expressed the advantages of joining a trip with like-minded divers with a passion for underwater photography.
• Suitable for everyone - New and experienced photographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great photos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. We also encourage non-photographers to join, as many of them really enjoy the daily photo reviews, learning about underwater photography, and some have even returned to a photo workshop with an underwater camera setup!

Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your photo instructor.

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Trip Inclusions

• Full-board accommodation on the Black Pearl, twin share
• 3 meals for every full day onboard
• Free drinking water, tea, instant coffee
• Two-way transfers only between the hotels in Koror area and Malakal Port
• 3 guided dives each day (except 2nd last day), plus 1 night dive
• 12-litre tanks, weights, and weight belts
• Nitrox for EANx certified divers
• WiFi
• An array of activities such as beach BBQ, cocktail party, Jacuzzi pool, snorkelling, paddleboard, kayaking, etc.
• Palau Goods & Services Tax (PGST)
• Fuel surcharges

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Trip Exclusions

• Marine Park Fees and Taxes ($150 per person, paid on board)
• Transfer between Koror (ROR) Airport (and islands outside of Koror area) and Malakal Port ($25 one-way)
• International flights
• Pre- or post-cruise accommodation
• Specialty coffee, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages
• 15-litre tank rentals and dive gear rentals
• Diving insurance (mandatory)
• Crew gratuities
• Travel Insurance - ask us about our preferred partner plan
• *Onboard fees and charges are subject to change.

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Accommodation

About the Black Pearl

For further details about the accommodation, visit our dedicated M/Y Black Pearl page. The Black Pearl is a luxury liveaboard offering exceptional diving adventures in Palau, featuring 11 stylish cabins for up to 22 guests. The upper-deck Master Seaview cabins and lower-deck Deluxe cabins all come equipped with ensuite bathrooms and modern amenities. Guests can enjoy 3 meals a day with light snacks, comfortable indoor and outdoor lounges, a sun deck, Jacuzzi, camera bay, and entertainment facilities. The vessel also provides expert dive guides, well-equipped tenders, and a large camera station for underwater photography.

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Connectivity

There is free Wi-Fi onboard, however, there may be limited or no access to internet once the yacht sails into a remote area or open sea. If you prefer a SIM card, M/Y Black Pearl offers SIM card free rentals during the cruise.

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How To Get There

Arrival

Guests should fly into Palau's Koror Airport (ROR), and we recommend arriving on January 18th, one day before embarkation. For those staying at hotels in Koror, complimentary transfers will begin mid-afternoon. Please ask us for hotel recommendations.

If you plan to arrive on embarkation day, the boat will charge a $25 transfer fee from the airport to the boat. You must arrive no later than 3pm on embarkation day.

International flights to Palau route through the Asian hubs of Taipei, Manila, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and also through Brisbane and Guam.

Departure

On the last day of the cruise, guests flying straight out will be transferred to the airport at least 2 hours before the time of departure of their flights. Check-out and disembarkation will be organized from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM (local time) on the last day. The boat charges an airport transfer fee of $25 per person.

If you are staying in Koror after the trip, complimentary hotel transfers within Koror are included in the trip price.

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Flight Package 

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages. 

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed. 

If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $1,000 to book your spot
• Payment 2: $2,000 due 1 January 2027
• Balance: due 1 December 2027

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