Ocean sunfish
Molidae
A true bucket-list encounter. Ocean sunfish (mola mola) appear seasonally at cleaning stations in places like Bali, the Galapagos, and the Azores. They're gentle giants — stay calm and they may drift surprisingly close.
Last updated April 2026
Species
Ocean sunfish
Mola mola(1 photos)VulnerableUp to 330 cm5–40mOpen water
Unmistakable — a massive, disc-shaped fish that looks like a swimming head with no tail. Grey-silver body with rough skin, tiny mouth, and tall dorsal and anal fins.
A rare, thrilling open-water encounter — often seen near the surface at cleaning stations or drifting with the current. One of diving's bucket-list sightings.
© Jouni Kuisma
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