The verdict
Best places to dive with bump-head sunfish
Mola alexandrini
The most reliable place to dive with bump-head sunfish is Lombok, from August to October.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 0 of 4 at peak | February: 0 of 4 at peak | March: 0 of 4 at peak | April: 0 of 4 at peak | May: 0 of 4 at peak | June: 0 of 4 at peak | July: 0 of 4 at peak | August: 3 of 4 at peak | September: 3 of 4 at peak | October: 3 of 4 at peak | November: 0 of 4 at peak | December: 0 of 4 at peak |
Most sites at peak Possible only
Based on 202 OBIS records of bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini) within 60 km of 4 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with bump-head sunfish
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lombok | Indonesia | Aug–Oct | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 2 | Tulamben / Amed | Indonesia | Aug–Oct | Near-guaranteed | 15 of 21 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 3 | Nusa Penida | Indonesia | Aug–Oct | Near-guaranteed | 15 of 23 years | Day boat |
| 4 | Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | Ecuador | All year | Likely | 13 of 29 years | Liveaboard |
When to dive with bump-head sunfish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lombok | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Possible | May: Not common | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Tulamben / Amed | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Possible | May: Not common | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Nusa Penida | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Possible | May: Not common | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
Peak season Possible Not common
Bump-head sunfish month by month
- January
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos.
- February
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos.
- March
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos.
- April
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Lombok.
- May
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos.
- June
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Lombok.
- July
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Lombok.
- August
- Season starts at Lombok. Also good at Tulamben / Amed and Nusa Penida.
- September
- Best at Lombok, Tulamben / Amed and 1 more.
- October
- Last peak month at Lombok. Also good at Tulamben / Amed and Nusa Penida.
- November
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Lombok.
- December
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Lombok.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months bump-head sunfish are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lombok | Aug–Oct | 28 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Tulamben / Amed | Aug–Oct | 28–29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Nusa Penida | Aug–Oct | 27–28 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | All year | 21–26 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
What else you'll see with bump-head sunfish
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Diving with bump-head sunfish: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with bump-head sunfish?
- The most reliable place to dive with bump-head sunfish is Lombok, from August to October.
- When is the best time to dive with bump-head sunfish?
- August to October, when 3 of the 4 best-evidenced destinations are at their peak. It varies by place: Lombok peaks August to October; Tulamben / Amed peaks August to October; Nusa Penida peaks August to October.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with bump-head sunfish?
- At Lombok from August to October, the water is 28 °C to 28 °C, so bring a skin or 3 mm shorty.
- How many places can you dive with bump-head sunfish?
- besttimetodive.com has bump-head sunfish on record at 4 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.