As of today, out of season, returns ~October. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Each Southern Hemisphere spring, epitokous palolo worms (the reproductive phase of Palola/related eunicid polychaetes) break from reef burrows and swim to the surface in nightly swarms.
In Samoa the event is a short seasonal harvest tied to lunar phase and local sea conditions, and is culturally important to coastal villages.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Lalomanu Beach (Aleipata, Southeast Upolu) |
| Saleapaga Beach & Reef Channel (Aleipata, Upolu) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.