Where and when to see Napoleon (humphead) wrasse

Huge, blue-green wrasse with a bulging forehead that often follow divers on protected reefs. Overfishing has made them rare outside marine parks.

This guide documents sightings in 6 Good Dives regions.

Colored-pencil illustration: one adult male Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus).

Napoleon (humphead) wrasse sighting calendar

Calendar months, every year

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Andaman IslandsIndia●●●●●●●●●●●●
BunakenIndonesia●●●●●●●●●●●●
North Malé AtollMaldives●●●●●●●●●●●●
Northern Red SeaEgypt●●●●●●●●●●●●
PalauPalau●●●●●●●●●●●●
South Malé AtollMaldives●●●●●●●●●●●●

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.

Explore all 6 documented regions