Route Description - Full Moon Spawning (7 nights)
The 7-night Full Moon Spawning itinerary aboard the Palau Siren delivers an unforgettable liveaboard diving experience, combining Palau’s breathtaking dive sites with a chance to witness one of the ocean’s most thrilling natural phenomena—the mass spawning of red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) during the full moon. During this lunar phase, thousands of red snappers gather in a high-energy spectacle, drawing in large oceanic predators that prey on the swirling, spawning fish. This powerful underwater event is rarely seen by divers, making it a highlight of the Palau diving calendar.
As the full moon period approaches, the Cruise Director offers a series of informative briefings to help divers understand the unique behaviors and conditions surrounding these special dives. Given the strong currents typically present at the spawning sites, these dives are recommended for experienced divers only.
Most diving during this itinerary takes place within the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with one day spent exploring the waters near Peleliu. The narrow channels and shifting tides make certain parts of the lagoon best navigated by skiff tenders. In line with national regulations, Palau Siren—along with all other liveaboards operating in the area—is required to use specific anchorage and mooring points, which limits movement within the lagoon. Dive teams are dropped off and picked up by skiffs, with transfers between the main vessel and dive sites generally taking between 5 to 15 minutes depending on anchorage.
Beyond the red snapper spawning event, some itineraries also offer the chance to try Blackwater diving—a truly unique night dive experience. Divers descend into open ocean in total darkness, far from the reef, to witness deep-sea creatures rising to the surface to feed—revealing a hidden world of bizarre and bioluminescent marine life.
Each day typically includes up to four dives: three daytime dives and one sunrise, sunset, or night dive, depending on the timing of the spawning activity. The daily diving schedule is as follows:
Light breakfast, followed by briefing and Dive 1
Full breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3
Snack, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4 (where possible)
Dinner
*On days that include land excursions, the number of dives is limited to three.