Invertebrate
Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Sepia pharaonis
A large Indo-Pacific cuttlefish that hovers over sand beside reef and shifts colour and skin texture when approached. It is heavily fished across Southeast Asia and IUCN lists it as Data Deficient. Around Koh Rong it is a routine sighting on shallow macro sites.
- Max size
- Mantle to about 42cm
- Habitat
- Sand, seagrass and rubble edges beside shallow reef across the Indo-Pacific, including the Gulf of Thailand
Best places to dive with Pharaoh Cuttlefish
| 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 |
Cuttlefish are reported year-round on the shallow Koh Rong Sanloem and Koh Koun sites. Species identification on operator pages is generic 'cuttlefish'; S. pharaonis is the expected Gulf of Thailand species but has not been confirmed to species level here.
Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Koh Rong Sanloem dive sites — Scuba Nation Diving Centre
- Pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) - conservation status — Wikipedia