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.
| 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 at northern and southern reef sites, but no Phu Quoc-specific monthly pattern was found.
Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Koh Rong Sanloem dive sites, Scuba Nation Diving Centre
- Pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) - conservation status, Wikipedia