Dive sites3
Marine life profile
Napoleon fish
Recorded at 3 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Napoleon fish around the world
The humphead wrasse (Crassilabrus undulatus) is the largest species of wrasse mainly found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. Often calm and observant, it patrols reef slopes and may learn the routines of familiar dive sites.
Countries2
Animal groupReef Fish
Safety profileGenerally Harmless
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
A huge wrasse with thick lips, intricate facial lines and a forehead hump that grows with age.
How It Behaves
Often calm and observant, it patrols reef slopes and may learn the routines of familiar dive sites.
Special Ability
Powerful jaws handle hard-shelled prey, including animals that many reef fish cannot tackle.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Move slowly at the same depth, avoid swimming directly at it and let the fish resume its normal behavior.
Safety
Usually safe to observe at a respectful distance. Never feed, corner or touch a fish, especially near nests or cleaning stations.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
Individuals can live for decades, making the largest fish on a reef genuine long-term residents.
Where to Find
Look around coral structure, rocky reef, wrecks and current lines where shelter and food meet.
Known countries
MaldivesIndonesia
Sightings map
Napoleon fish locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Kandooma Thila
Maldives
Kandooma Thila, or also called Cocoa Thila, is one of the most exciting dives in South Male’ Atoll with great scenery as well as prolific fish life. The west and north side are the most spectacular, with the top at 16m. These are a focal point for schools of Bluefin Trevallies, eagle rays, dogtooth tunas and loose groups of gray reef sharks (50+ in the right current). Cleaning station for grey reef , you can see them going in a vertical position while small wrasses are cleaning them. Currents can be very strong making it a challenging dive. For experienced divers only.
Lekuan 1, 2, 3
Indonesia
One of the most popular dive sites on Bunaken Island. Coral drops, turtles, Napoleon Fish etc. It's stunning.
Rasdhoo Beyru
Maldives
A beautiful wall on the south side of the island of Rasdhoo with three small pinnacles (thila) that are on the lower edge a little further from the island wall. Thilas Top starts at 18-20 meters and is suitable for beginners and experts alike but the current can be medium to strong. Napoleon, white tip sharks and gray reef sharks can be sighted here regularly. Sometimes stingrays resting on the sandy bottom between 25 and 30 meters deep between the wall and the thilas. If you are lucky eagle rays, and on very lucky days manta rays! It is also a great diving spot for macro enthusiasts as so many small creatures can be found here!