Dive with

Best places to dive with Nassau grouper

Epinephelus striatus

A large, curious grouper that once formed huge spawning aggregations across the Caribbean. Seen on the Lighthouse Reef walls; the atoll's protected status matters for a species this heavily fished. Winter spawning aggregations form near reef promontories after full moons.

Destinations ranked by how reliably nassau grouper is seen. The bars show the likelihood by month — never a guarantee. See the full species page for more.

Bonaire, Bonaire
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

A curious reef resident on Bonaire; the species is endangered range-wide, so protected populations here are notable.

Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Resident on the reef year-round. Spawning aggregations form around the December-March full moons at specific promontories. Listed Critically Endangered by the IUCN since 2018 after declines exceeding 80%; Belize protects it with closed seasons and no-take zones.