Where and when to see mola mola (ocean sunfish)
The heaviest bony fish rises from deep, cold water to cleaning stations on reefs, usually during short seasons when cold upwellings reach the surface.
This guide documents sightings in 3 Good Dives regions. The most regions are in peak season in September.
Mola mola (ocean sunfish) sighting calendar
Calendar months, every year
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nusa PenidaIndonesia | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ||||||
| GalápagosEcuador | ● | Peak | Peak | ● | ||||||||
| AlorIndonesia | ● | ● | Peak | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely.
Calendars describe animal presence, not weather or site access; check each region’s dive season. For grouped animals, a marked month may apply to only one member of the group. Sightings vary by site and dive.