In this edition of "Ask a Travel Expert," dive travel writer Terry Ward helps you dive underwater aggregations and with your family.

Q: Where can I see spawning aggregations of fish?

A: As any diver knows, most of what we get to see underwater comes down to sheer luck—being in the right place at the right time. But if seeing spawning aggregations of fish is on your dive bucket list, there are many places where you can stack the odds in your favor.

Here in Florida, I try to get down to Jupiter every year for the annual late-summer grouper aggregation. The behemoths lurk by the scores and sometimes hundreds on reefs and wrecks just offshore.

For spawning aggregation hotspots elsewhere in the world, I asked PADI Travel expert Florian Allgaeuer for his favorites. “In Palau, you can witness a variety of different spawning events, such as sea bass, red snapper and bumphead parrotfish, with the largest aggregations of fish and predators at different times of the year and lunar period.”

In Fakarava, French Polynesia, Allgaeuer says, the annual marbled grouper spawning happens in June or July. Adding to the spectacle of all that fishy action, thousands of reef sharks also gather for the moment in a full-on hunting frenzy that’s a true thrill to witness.

Q: In addition to tipping, what are some good ways to show your appreciation to crew on a liveaboard or at a dive resort?


A: I once noticed another diver on a liveaboard passing along some DVDs she had to the crew, who were thrilled with the gesture. It got me thinking that there are other gestures we can use to show our appreciation to those working in the industry, in addition to the tips we leave.

“Some ideas for tokens to bring along on liveaboards or gift to resort staff include candies or snacks from your hometown, games, toys or books,” says Jay Clue, of Dive Ninja Expeditions in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “It creates this really great opportunity to connect with the team and share cultures.”

When it comes to tipping, PADI expert Chelsey Thwaites reminds travelers that the money you leave often goes beyond recognizing the customer-service experience. “You are often directly supporting local workers to provide for their families,” she says. And that counts now more than ever.

Q: Where are some good destinations for traveling with extended family?


A: If you’re eager to make up for lost time by traveling with family, you might be considering a multigenerational trip or one with extended family—and chances are, not everybody is a diver.

The first place I’m going this winter with my extended family of divers and land-lubbers is Baja California Sur—in particular the towns of Loreto and La Paz, where we can enjoy hiking, whale-watching and even snorkeling with whale sharks for those among us who aren’t certified.

I asked Kelly Hicks from PADI Travel for her picks of good destinations to visit with a diverse family group. “Make sure to choose a destination that features easily accessible dive sites, a variety of other activities and good resources for food and family supplies,” she says, pointing to Mexico, Hawaii and Caribbean islands as top contenders.

Destinations that offer options for snorkeling and diving from the same local boat tours are also winners, she says.

“At PADI Travel, we even have a collection of dive resorts that cater to other land-based activities for both divers and nondivers,” Hicks says.