THE EXPEDITION

This is one of the rarest and most spectacular marine wildlife expeditions we offer—built entirely around one of the largest known spawning aggregations of Camouflage Groupers anywhere on Earth.

For just a few nights each year, around the full moon in June and July, thousands of Camouflage Groupers migrate from reefs throughout Fakarava Atoll to gather inside the legendary South Pass. Miss this narrow lunar window, and the opportunity disappears for another month.

Only by staying at South Pass throughout the spawning period can you truly experience the event. Our itinerary is designed around the behaviour of the fish—not the clock—allowing us to dive exactly when the aggregation is at its most active, both during the day and after dark.

For several days we document the gradual build-up of the aggregation.

What begins as scattered groups soon transforms into an extraordinary gathering of hundreds, then thousands, of groupers covering the reef. Each day the intensity increases as dominant males establish territories, rivals battle for position, and females arrive carrying eggs in preparation for the spawning event.

Then, around the full moon, everything changes.

As daylight fades, the aggregation reaches its peak. The fish organise into spawning groups, rising into the water column in rapid spawning ascents before disappearing back into the reef. Clouds of eggs and sperm are released into the current while Grey Reef Sharks and Lemon Sharks patrol relentlessly through the aggregation, taking advantage of one of nature's greatest feeding opportunities.

It is one of the most dramatic underwater spectacles ever documented and one that few divers will ever have the privilege of witnessing firsthand.

Beyond the spawning itself, Fakarava offers some of the finest shark diving on the planet.

Tumakohua Pass—better known as South Pass—is home to the famous "Wall of Sharks," where hundreds of Grey Reef Sharks line the channel throughout the day. It was here that underwater explorer Laurent Ballesta and the Gombessa Expeditions team captured their award-winning documentation of grouper spawning and shark predation, bringing worldwide attention to this extraordinary ecosystem.

Throughout the expedition you'll also enjoy spectacular drift dives through pristine coral formations, enormous schools of reef fish, eagle rays, Napoleon Wrasse, turtles, and the incredible biodiversity that has made Fakarava a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Over the course of the expedition, you'll:

• Dive the world's most famous Camouflage Grouper spawning aggregation.

• Witness the gradual build-up from hundreds to thousands of fish as the full moon approaches.

• Experience multiple daytime, dusk, and night dives during the peak spawning period.

• Observe the incredible interaction between spawning groupers, Grey Reef Sharks, and Lemon Sharks.

• Dive the legendary Wall of Sharks at South Pass.

• Learn the biology, behaviour, and timing of one of the ocean's greatest natural events through daily briefings and presentations.

• Explore one of the most pristine coral reef ecosystems remaining anywhere in the Pacific.

Expect currents, long dive days, multiple dives each day, and a schedule dictated entirely by nature. This is an expedition for experienced divers who want to witness genuine wildlife behaviour—not simply visit another tropical reef.

Thousands of groupers. Hundreds of sharks. One perfectly timed full moon.

This is not simply a dive holiday.

It's a front-row seat to one of the greatest natural spectacles beneath the ocean.

DAY 1 DIVING – FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH CAMOUFLAGE GROUPERS

Today marks our first full day diving the legendary South Pass, where one of nature's most remarkable underwater gatherings is already beginning to take shape.

By now, hundreds—often thousands—of Camouflage Groupers have arrived from reefs across the atoll, each taking up temporary residence around the outer reef and channels as they prepare for the nights surrounding the full moon. Although the main spawning event is still a few days away, the transformation has already begun. Everywhere you look, groupers patrol the reef, establish territories, challenge rivals, and constantly interact with one another.

Our objective today isn't to witness spawning—it's to learn the site.

Over the course of several dives, we'll become familiar with the different areas of South Pass, identifying where the largest concentrations of fish are gathering, where dominant males are establishing territories, and how the current influences fish movement throughout the day. Understanding these patterns is one of the keys to predicting where the most exciting behaviour will unfold later in the expedition.

Just as importantly, today gives everyone the opportunity to settle into the diving. We'll fine-tune our weighting, camera systems, and dive equipment, ensuring everything is working perfectly before the action reaches its peak. There is nothing worse than discovering an equipment issue on the very night the spawning begins.

Even on this introductory day, expect outstanding encounters. Massive schools of Camouflage Groupers cruise above the reef, Grey Reef Sharks patrol the drop-off, and the reef itself is alive with activity as anticipation quietly builds beneath the surface.

This is only the beginning. Over the coming days we'll watch this incredible aggregation grow larger, more dynamic, and increasingly intense as the full moon approaches.

DAY 2 DIVING – LEARNING GROUPER BEHAVIOURS OUR FIRST SUNSET DIVE

With two days spent exploring South Pass, you'll now begin to recognise that this aggregation is far more than simply a large gathering of fish. Every dive reveals new behaviour, subtle changes in the reef, and growing signs that the spawning event is drawing closer.

Today's dives focus on understanding the social dynamics of the Camouflage Groupers. You'll witness dominant males defending territories, chasing rivals from prime positions, and displaying increasingly aggressive behaviour as more fish arrive each day. Large groups move with the current before suddenly concentrating in specific areas, while smaller interactions play out across the reef as individuals compete for space.

By now, you'll know the dive site well. You'll understand where the strongest currents develop, where the main grouper concentrations are building, and the safest routes through the channel. This familiarity is essential as we prepare for one of the expedition's most exciting experiences.

As the sun begins to set, we gear up for our first night dive inside South Pass.

Night completely transforms the reef.

The daylight crowds disappear, while the groupers remain, continuing to hold their territories beneath the cover of darkness. At the same time, the channel's apex predators begin to arrive. Grey Reef Sharks patrol relentlessly through the aggregation, while Lemon Sharks cruise the shallows, using the darkness to their advantage. Every movement of the groupers is watched closely as the predators search for an opportunity.

Although the peak spawning event is still likely a day or two away, this first night dive offers an unforgettable glimpse into the growing tension beneath the surface. The anticipation is unmistakable. Thousands of fish are preparing for one of the Pacific's great natural spectacles, while the sharks already know exactly what is coming.

For many divers, this is the moment the expedition truly comes alive—a completely different world from the daytime dives, where the darkness, the currents, and the constant presence of sharks create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on Earth.

DAY 3 DIVING – SPAWNING FIRST ATTEMPT

With two days spent exploring South Pass, you'll now begin to recognise that this aggregation is far more than simply a large gathering of fish. Every dive reveals new behaviour, subtle changes in the reef, and growing signs that the spawning event is drawing closer.

Today's dives focus on understanding the social dynamics of the Camouflage Groupers. You'll witness dominant males defending territories, chasing rivals from prime positions, and displaying increasingly aggressive behaviour as more fish arrive each day. Large groups move with the current before suddenly concentrating in specific areas, while smaller interactions play out across the reef as individuals compete for space.

By now, you'll know the dive site well. You'll understand where the strongest currents develop, where the main grouper concentrations are building, and the safest routes through the channel. This familiarity is essential as we prepare for one of the expedition's most exciting experiences.

As the sun begins to set, we gear up for our first night dive inside South Pass.

Night completely transforms the reef.

The daylight crowds disappear, while the groupers remain, continuing to hold their territories beneath the cover of darkness. At the same time, the channel's apex predators begin to arrive. Grey Reef Sharks patrol relentlessly through the aggregation, while Lemon Sharks cruise the shallows, using the darkness to their advantage. Every movement of the groupers is watched closely as the predators search for an opportunity.

Although the peak spawning event is still likely a day or two away, this first night dive offers an unforgettable glimpse into the growing tension beneath the surface. The anticipation is unmistakable. Thousands of fish are preparing for one of the Pacific's great natural spectacles, while the sharks already know exactly what is coming.

For many divers, this is the moment the expedition truly comes alive—a completely different world from the daytime dives, where the darkness, the currents, and the constant presence of sharks create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on Earth.

DAY 4 DIVING – SPAWNING PEAK DAY

This is the day we've all been waiting for.

Weeks of preparation by the fish and days of observing their behaviour have led to this moment. Around the full moon, South Pass becomes the stage for one of the most spectacular marine events anywhere in the Pacific.

Today's dives are timed around the spawning activity, giving us the greatest possible chance of witnessing the event unfold. During the day, the aggregation reaches its highest density, with thousands of Camouflage Groupers packed across the reef and channel. Competition is fierce as dominant males defend territories, chase rivals, and display constantly to attract females. The entire reef is alive with movement, and every dive reveals a level of activity that simply doesn't exist anywhere else in the year.

As dusk approaches, the anticipation becomes almost tangible.

The tightly packed aggregation begins to reorganise as smaller groups form and move into the strongest current. Females become increasingly swollen with eggs while dominant males intensify their displays, circling, vibrating, and driving competitors away from their chosen spawning sites. Suddenly, pairs—or sometimes small groups—rush high into the water column in a split-second spawning ascent, releasing clouds of eggs and sperm before racing back down to the safety of the reef.

This incredible behaviour may repeat hundreds of times over the course of the evening, creating one of nature's greatest underwater spectacles.

Of course, the sharks know exactly what's happening.

Grey Reef Sharks patrol relentlessly around the aggregation, while Lemon Sharks cruise through the shallows, taking advantage of the confusion and searching for an easy meal. The combination of thousands of spawning groupers, powerful currents, and predators hunting beneath the cover of darkness creates an unforgettable atmosphere unlike any other dive on Earth.

Watching this ancient ritual unfold is a privilege few divers ever experience. It is raw, chaotic, and perfectly timed by the lunar cycle—a reminder of just how extraordinary the natural world can be.

DAY 5 - THE GROUPER DEPARTURE

Every great natural event must eventually come to an end.

After several nights of spawning, the aggregation begins to break apart. The urgency and intensity of the previous evenings slowly give way to a remarkable transformation as the Camouflage Groupers complete their reproductive cycle and begin their journey back to the reefs they call home.

For many people, this is one of the most fascinating days of the expedition.

Rather than remaining tightly packed in huge numbers, the fish disperse into smaller groups and individuals, moving steadily back through the pass and into Fakarava's vast lagoon. It is a behaviour few divers ever witness. Instead of seeing a single dense aggregation, you'll find groupers scattered throughout the reef in incredibly photogenic locations, often resting beneath coral bommies, weaving through channels, or hugging the reef as they quietly make their way home. They almost seem to scuttle back into the lagoon like rats returning to their burrows after a busy night, creating unique photographic opportunities that simply don't exist during the peak of the aggregation.

The pace is calmer, allowing us to appreciate these magnificent fish in a completely different way. After the excitement of the spawning nights, it's the perfect opportunity to capture wide-angle reef scenes, portraits, and natural behaviour as the reef gradually returns to normal.

As darkness falls, we make one final descent into South Pass for our last night dive.

Although many of the groupers have already begun to leave, the predators remain. Grey Reef Sharks continue their endless patrols, while powerful Lemon Sharks cruise silently through the channel, searching for the last stragglers lingering after the spawning event. The hunting behaviour can be exceptional, with sharks taking advantage of tired, distracted fish before the aggregation disappears for another lunar cycle.

It's a fitting finale to an extraordinary expedition.

Over the past few days, we've watched one of nature's greatest underwater spectacles unfold—from the first arriving fish to the peak spawning event, and finally the quiet dispersal back to the lagoon. Very few divers ever witness the complete story.

Tomorrow, South Pass will seem just a little quieter... until the next full moon calls the groupers back once again.