The coral is considered to be uncommon due to its low confirmed abundance, yet has been found in Hawaii, the Indo-Pacific, and the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Large aggregations of Pavona duerdeni have been confirmed in: the Gulf of Panama; the Carrizales, Colima coral reef, located the Western Mexican coast; in Thailand in Koh Tao reef; in the Johnston Atoll reef; in the Hawaiian Archipelago and the Emperor seamount chain.