The verdict
Best places to dive with potato cods
Epinephelus tukula
The most reliable place to dive with potato cods is Ribbon Reefs, from All year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 1 of 4 at peak | February: 0 of 4 at peak | March: 1 of 4 at peak | April: 0 of 4 at peak | May: 2 of 4 at peak | June: 0 of 4 at peak | July: 0 of 4 at peak | August: 0 of 4 at peak | September: 1 of 4 at peak | October: 0 of 4 at peak | November: 0 of 4 at peak | December: 1 of 4 at peak |
Most sites at peak Some at peak Possible only
Based on 129 OBIS records of potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) within 60 km of 4 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with potato cods
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ribbon Reefs | Australia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 25 of 32 years | Liveaboard |
| 2 | Aliwal Shoal | South Africa | All year | Likely | 12 of 31 years | Day boat |
| 3 | Ponta do Ouro | Mozambique | Mar, May, Sep | Likely | 11 of 24 yearsfew records | Day boat |
| 4 | Tofo | Mozambique | Dec–Jan, May | Likely | 8 of 25 yearsfew records | Day boat |
When to dive with potato cods
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribbon Reefs | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Aliwal Shoal | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Ponta do Ouro | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Possible | May: Peak season | Jun: Possible | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Possible | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
| Tofo | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Possible | May: Peak season | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Not common | Nov: Possible | Dec: Peak season |
Peak season Possible Not common
Potato cod month by month
- January
- Last peak month at Tofo.
- February
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- March
- The one peak month at Ponta do Ouro.
- April
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- May
- The one peak month at Ponta do Ouro. Also good at Tofo.
- June
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- July
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- August
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- September
- The one peak month at Ponta do Ouro.
- October
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- November
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Ribbon Reefs.
- December
- Season starts at Tofo.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months potato cods are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ribbon Reefs | All year | 25–29 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Aliwal Shoal | All year | 22–26 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
| Ponta do Ouro | Mar, May, Sep | 23–27 °C | 5 mm full suit |
| Tofo | Dec–Jan, May | 26–28 °C | 3 mm full suit |
What else you'll see with potato cods
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Diving with potato cods: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with potato cods?
- The most reliable place to dive with potato cods is Ribbon Reefs, from All year.
- When is the best time to dive with potato cods?
- May, when 2 of the 4 best-evidenced destinations are at their peak. It varies by place: Ribbon Reefs peaks All year; Aliwal Shoal peaks All year; Ponta do Ouro peaks March, May, September.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with potato cods?
- At Ribbon Reefs from All year, the water is 25 °C to 29 °C, so bring a 3 mm full suit.
- How many places can you dive with potato cods?
- besttimetodive.com has potato cods on record at 4 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.