Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip June 2025
June 06 - June 13 , 2025
Join us in the Fakarava Atoll and experience the Grouper Spawning, where female groupers release millions of eggs and the males release clouds of sperm to ensure fertilization and the future of grouper populations.
Off the Beaten Track
Photo Group Trip
Shark Encounters
Nitrox Included
Why Join This Trip- Inclusions & Exclusions
- Trip Type
- Trip Overview
- Accommodations
- Photo Gallery
- About the Trip Leader
- How to Get There
- Payment Schedule
Why join this Trip?
Video recap of Bluewater Travel's 2024 Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip
Havaiki Lodge & Motu Aito
Double Occupancy
$3,790p/p
OptionalLand Extensions
Inclusions
Exclusions
Trip type
Group Trip with Photo Support
Led by a professional or experienced photographer who will be happy to provide advice and guidance on all elements of your photography as required. The logistics of this trip mean that formal photography tutorials and workshops are not practical.
Read more about the trip
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
Every year, the Grouper Spawning occurs in Fakarava Atoll, where numerous groupers of different species come together. The primary gathering spot for these groupers is the southern pass, which connects the lagoon to the open ocean. During this event, female groupers release millions of eggs, and the males release clouds of sperm, ensuring successful fertilization.
This spawning event is essential for sustaining grouper populations and also attracts various marine predators and scavengers. Sharks, barracudas, and other predatory fish often gather in large numbers to capitalize on the abundant food available during the spawning season.
Our Bluewater trip has been planned to coincide with the predicted date of the grouper spawning in 2025. Please note that this will occur overnight and night diving is not permitted in Fakarava. However, in the days before and after the grouper spawning, we can expect to see huge aggregations of grouper and sharks. We will also plan a dive very early in the morning on the day after the grouper spawning to catch the final stages of the event. This remarkable occurrence offers a unique and unforgettable experience for those lucky enough to witness this spectacular event.
Read our full 2024 Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip Recap, and check out Scott Gietler's photo essay from our past grouper spawning trip. There's more than just sharks in French Polynesia!
Sample Itinerary
- Jun 6: Arrival in Fakarava (FAV) and transfer to Havaiki Lodge to check in
- Jun 7: 3 dives in Fakarava North Pass
- Jun 8: 3 dives in Fakarava North Pass
- Jun 9: 2 dives in Fakarava North Pass and transfer to Motu Aito to check in
- Jun 10: 3 dives in Fakarava South Pass
- Jun 11: Expected day of grouper spawning. 3 dives in Fakarava South Pass
- Jun 12: 3 dives in Fakarava South Pass
- Jun 13: Check out of Motu Aito and transfer to Fakarava airport (FAV)
Recommended Gear
- Wetsuits. A full-length Lycra skin or a 3mm neoprene suit is recommended. A hood or hooded vest provides additional warmth and sun protection. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo.
- Strong fins. We recommend the Apeks RK3 Dive Fins.
- SMB. The Mares Dive Marker Buoy is our choice!
- Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article.
- Travel regulator. We suggest the Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator.
- Dive computer. Take your pick of dive computers at Bluewater Photo.
Accommodations
About Havaiki Lodge
The Havaiki team, welcoming guests with warm Polynesian smiles, ensures a rich stay at the Havaiki Lodge. Located in Fakarava, Havaiki Lodge welcomes guests to enjoy their amenities on the lagoon or in the heart of the garden. Complete with kayaks, canoes, and bikes, the resort is the perfect place for guests to discover the most beautiful places such as the well-known pink sand atolls. While here, guests are welcome to enjoy the cocktails and the refined cuisine of local and European inspiration.
About Motu Aito
Motu Aito Paradise is a charming, isolated eco-resort that takes its commitment to long-term sustainability seriously. This island paradise is located in the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fakarava, French Polynesia. Because of the area's Biosphere Reserve status, all construction at Motu Aito Paradise is done in the traditional Polynesia way using natural materials such as wood. This is a genuinely authentic escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
About the Trip Leader
Mark Hatter
Mark Hatter is an accomplished photojournalist who has had nearly one hundred feature articles with many hundreds of images published in more than two dozen fly fishing and diving publications over the last two decades. His most recent destination features have appeared in Alert Diver and Diver (UK) magazines.
Mark has traveled the world in pursuit of new underwater photography challenges, including cold-water destinations such as British Columbia and even Antarctica in January 2018.
“Of course, I love shooting in tropical locations but I think cold water diving is a great forcing function to hone one’s photography skills as the environment and equipment are much more demanding of a diver. Good image capture in cold water is particularly rewarding.” Mark tells us.
Mark has been shooting underwater since the early 1980s and has worked in both film and digital mediums in his photojournalism pursuits. In 35 years of diving, Mark has logged over 2000 hours, much of it doing underwater photography. Currently, he teaches underwater photography classes locally at Seminole Scuba in Lake Mary, Florida.
How to Get There
Flight Information
Guests should fly internationally to Tahiti (PPT), arriving in the evening of Jun 5 or early morning of Jun 6. Direct flights are available from LAX and SFO with United, Air Tahiti Nui, Delta, French Bee, and Qantas. You should then book a domestic flight from PPT to FAV on Jun 6 with Air Tahiti. We recommend booking domestic flights early as they book up well in advance.
Flight Package
Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.
However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.
If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $1,000 to confirm your spot
- Payment 2: $2,000 due 1 September 2024
- Balance: due 1 February 2025
Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip June 2025
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