Diving

Scuba Diving Information For Tahiti and French Polynesia

French Polynesia, with its nearly 3,000 hours of tropical sunshine each year and ocean temperatures varying from 79F to 84F, is one of the world’s greatest diving destinations. In fact, from the ocean surface down to 166 feet there is only a ½ difference in temperature. Visibility in these waters is perfect down at least 120 feet. Generally, a fully-equipped tank dive is about $80 USD per person. The diving clubs in FrenchPolynesia are fully qualified and internationally recognized. You will feel safe and well taken care here.

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There are three distinct diving areas:

• The Lagoon - like a huge, natural swimming pool, lagoons are extremely calm, quite shallowand are crystal clear–the perfect location for beginner divers or for honing your technique.
• The Reef Slope - outside the lagoon but still hugging the reef that forms the inner lagoon, youare able to dive deeper but enjoy the multi-colored coral and tropical sea life. This is where you will find the larger fish.
• The Inlet or Pass - openings in the coral atoll that allow ocean waters and species to minglewith lagoon life. This is where you will often find the highest concentrations of a species as they make their routine commute between the two.

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French Polynesia is one of the best locations in the world for observing such a grand abundance of sea life. Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and the other Society Islands have excellent diving. Perhaps even better, the islands of the Tuamotu archipelago: Manihi, Tikehau, Rangiroa and Fakarava are world-renowned for their diving.

All throughout French Polynesia you will see beautiful and elegant manta rays with wing spans of ten feet or more; huge Napoleon fish weighing over 80 pounds each; and a very wide variety of sharks, such as gray, reef, sleeper, whale shark and hammerhead. It is possible to see migrating humpback whales normally during the months from July through October. There arealso barracudas, dolphins and sea turtles, to name a few more species. Most of this sea life can be found at depths less than 100 feet.

Now we will explore diving at each of the islands of French Polynesia -

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Tahiti

‍The many sites around the island of Tahiti are perfect for both beginning and advanced divers. It’s a good place to become used to newgear and to build up your confidence before traveling to the outer islands of French Polynesia. There are excellent CMAS and PADI certificationcourses on Tahiti. Diving near Tahiti you can see sea turtles, giant wrasses, sharks and even humpback whales during season. There is a diving wreck right outside the main town of Papeete.

Best dive sites: The Aquarium, the Wrecks, Papa Whisky, St. Etienne Drop-off, Freshwater Springs. See Tahiti Tourism’s Diving info for more sites and details.

Dive operators: Top Dive (at InterConti Resort), Eleuthera Tahiti, Tahiti Iti Diving, Scubatek, Fluid

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Bora Bora

‍For divers, the beauty of this island also extends to the ocean. Experience an unforgettable Manta Ray "ballet" in the lagoon, or dancewith a wide variety of sharks, turtles and schools of barracudas outside the pass.

Best dive sites: Aito, Anau, Tupitipiti Point, Manta Ray’s Dance, The White Valley (Muri Muri), Leopard Ray’s Trench (Toopua), Tapu, theTeavamui Pass and Turiroa.

Dive operators: Eleuthera Bora, Top Dive (at InterConti Thalasso & Pearl Beach), Diveasy, Dive n Smile, Hiro Dive, Aqua Safari Helmet Dive

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Moorea

‍Just a couples miles from Tahiti, Moorea is particularly known for its clear warm waters; its rich, abundant tropical marine life, including turtles and eagle rays; and an impressive concentration of shark species. About 25,000 divers each year enjoy the effortless diving conditions with little or no current, incredible visibility, and exhilarating encounters with blacktip reef, grey or lemon sharks. You’ll also see exquisite Moorish idols,bright butterflyfish, spotted eels, and napoleon wrasse.

Best dive sites: Tiki Point, Aito, Taotoi, The Rays’ Corridor, Oponohu Coral Wall, The Anemones, Garden of Roses, Sharks’ Dining Room

Dive operators: Top Dive (at InterConti Resort), Moorea Blue Diving (at Manava Resort), Moorea Fun Dive, Scubapiti

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Huahine

‍Here you will find a wild and pristine marine paradise. Schools of barracudas, jackfish, red snappers are common, as well as many sharkspecies, napoleons, rays and turtles. From July to October, humpback whales enjoy the calm of the large fjord-like bays separating Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.

Best dive sites: Fa’a Miti, the Aquarium, Hana Iti, Hiva Spot, Coral City, Roses, The Yellow Valley, Parea Drop off, Fitii Drop off

Dive operators: Mahana Dive, Pacific Blue Adventure

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Rangiroa

‍Life is simple and tranquil on the atoll of Rangiroa, the second largest in the South Pacific. Yet, to “shoot the pass” is an experiencethat many have called “the world’s greatest adrenaline rush!” Twice a day the marine world enters and exits the Avatoru and Tiputa Channels with the flow of the ocean’s current. The passes contain squadrons of eagle and manta rays, jacks, tuna, barracuda, sea turtles, and sharks. And outside the passes, a breathtaking array of large species await you along the brightly colored walls of the coral drop-offs. Rangiroa’s lagoon is highly prized by divers from all around the world because of the visibility and the density of marine life, particularly sharks.

Best dive sites: Motu Fara Pass, Napoleon Manta Point, Mahuta, Avatoru Pass, Tiputa Shark Cave, Tiputa Caverns and Tiputa Aquarium, theWind Turbine, The Blue, Giant Wrasse Shelf

Dive operators: Rangiroa Diving Center, Y Aka Plongee, the Six Passengers, Top Dive (at Kia Ora Resort and 1 other location), Raie Manta Club

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Tikehau

‍The marine life is so dense in Tikehau that Jacques Cousteau declared it to have the highest concentration of fish among the TuamotuAtolls. It is quickly becoming one of the premier diving destinations in the world. The diving sites concentrate around the pass where a mix of large and small species create a unique experience for all levels of diving. Species most commonly encountered in Tikehau include tuna, snapper, wrasse, Moray eel, anemones, clown fish, manta rays, turtles and hammerhead, deep and grey sharks.

Best dive sites: Mara, Raira Cave, Tuheiava Pass, Teavatia, Turtle Hole, The Thrust, Puafa, Teonai, the Shark Hole, the Bell, MamaaAmphitheater

Dive operators: Top Dive (at Pearl Beach Resort), Tikehau Plongee, Raie Manta Club

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Taha’a / Raiatea

‍The islands of Raiatea and Taha’a share the same lagoon whose diving landscape is rich with a variety of sea mounts,caverns, drop-offs, and wrecks that are famous the world over. Most dive spots are just 10 to 25 minutes by boat from Le Tahaa Private Island Resort.

Best dive sites: Tapu Tapu, Paipai Pass, Mao Mao, the Octopus Hole, Nordby, Miri Miri, Ceran Pass, Miri Miri Pass and Teavapiti Pass

Dive operators: Taha’a Diving (at Le Taha’a Resort), Hemisphere Sub, Te Mara Nui

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Tetiaroa

‍This beautiful atoll is the home of The Brando resort and is situated in some of the most pristine and clear turquoise blue waters in the South Pacific. The inner lagoon is calm and protected, with no navigable passes for boats to come and go. However, snorkeling is available in the lagoon and diving outside. You may see whales at the right time of year.

Best dive sites: Tiaraunu, Oroatera, Rimatu’u, The Canyons

Dive operators: Top Dive (at The Brando Resort)

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In case of a diving accident, evacuations by airplane or helicopter are available day and night. French Polynesia’s search and rescue program is equipped with modern recompression chambers and a team of doctors highly trained in hyper baric medicine.

As many travel insurance packages do not include coverage for scuba diving, we suggest that additional special diving insurance be purchased. Consult your travel specialist for more information.

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