Coral Spawning

Once a year — typically a few nights after the full moon in October or November — Raja Ampat's reef-building corals release their gametes in a single synchronized event. Hundreds of colonies of Acropora spp. and other species spawn simultaneously, sending pink and white bundles drifting upward through the water column.The sight is dreamlike: an underwater snowstorm in reverse, with fish, shrimp, and plankton-feeders converging to feast on the bonanza. The event lasts 30–90 minutes per night, peaking around 21:00.Predicting the exact night requires close monitoring of moon, tide, and water temperature. Our cruise directors track these signals in the days leading up to the event. Booking a voyage to coincide with coral spawning is an act of timing — and is highly speculative since the precise night is only confirmed days before.