Reef fish
Lionfish
Pterois volitans
A venomous-spined reef fish, native here in the Indo-Pacific (unlike its invasive status in the Atlantic). Common on and inside the Truk wrecks, hovering in the shade of the superstructure.
- Max size
- Up to about 38cm
- Habitat
- Native Indo-Pacific reef and wreck dweller; shelters in wreckage, holds and overhangs.
Best places to dive with Lionfish
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Reported on the wrecks and on the shallow reefs at Abana and Pelong Rocks. Year-round.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Lionfish are on essentially every Coron wreck, sheltering in the structure and holds; scorpionfish share the same spots. Reliable year-round.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Present year-round on the rocky reefs and sponge slopes around Koh Rong Sanloem.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Common on the walls and house reefs, sometimes in loose schools around the Cathedral at Pescador.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Present on essentially every site in the bay, from the 13m training slopes up to the pinnacles. No seasonality.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Frequently seen tucked into wreckage. Native to this region, so a normal resident rather than a pest.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Lionfish occur on Phu Quoc reefs but should be treated as a possible small-reef sighting, not a trip-defining animal.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Lionfish shelter on wrecks and artificial structures throughout the bay; no seasonal claim is made.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.