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Diving in Tahiti

Generally speaking, a fully equipped tank dive is around $80 USD per person on most islands in Tahiti. Whether you are a diving novice or seasoned professional, you will find the diving clubs throughout Tahiti to be fully qualified and internationally recognized, able to guide you in total safety through a variety of superb underwater locations throughout French Polynesia.

You may also with to visit Tahiti Tourism's Diving Information website located at http://www.diving-tahiti.com as it is filled with diving information for all the islands and is an excellent resource.

With nearly 3000 hours of sunshine yearly, with maritime temperatures varying between 79F and 84F in summer (constant to a depth of 150 feet), perfect visibility down to 120 feet, negligible tides, French Polynesia is one of the world’s greatest diving destinations offering essentially three distinct zones to explore: the lagoon, a gigantic natural swimming pool with calm, shallow and crystal clear waters, which remains the ideal place to learn or perfect your diving technique; the ocean-side slope of the reef, offering against a navy-blue background, all the exuberance of a multicolored world of coral: the inlet (any opening in the barrier reef of an elevated island or atoll), which remains the place most likely to show high concentrations of any particular species.

French Polynesia is definitely one of the most recognized underwater destinations for observing what the majority of divers call « le gros » (everything « in big »). And even then on a scale surpassing your wildest hopes, (schools of several hundred carangues, loach etc), you will find three highlights in the Tuamotu archipelago: Manihi, Tikehau, and Rangiroa, all world renowned. Majestic manta rays with wing spans of several meters, and their somewhat smaller cousins, the leopard rays; Napoleon fish weighing over 35 kg: a large number of species of shark, such as the gray shark, the reef shark with its white dorsal fin, the sleeper shark and, less frequently, the whale shark, the hammerhead, and rare still, humpback whales during the months of July – October. Not to mention the barracudas, dolphins and turtles. Most of these underwater marvels can be found at depth less than 30m ( although French Polynesia is host to any number of deeper, more technical explorations), so don’t hesitate any longer: treat yourself to the discovery of Tahiti's underwater Garden of Eden.

It is difficult to describe the beauty and enchantment that emerges from Bora Bora! Combine two towering volcanic peaks, one brilliant turquoise lagoon, atolls fringed with palms, story book beaches, and you have the formula for the most stunning island in the South Pacific. For divers, the magic extends to the ocean. Experience an unforgettable Manta Ray "ballet" in the lagoon, dance with a wide variety of sharks, turtles & schools of barracudas outside the unique pass. Dive sites include:Tupitipiti Point, Manta Ray’s Dance, The White Valley (Muri Muri) and Leopard Ray’s Trench (Toopua), Tapu, the Teavamui Pass and Turiroa.

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Tahiti's sister island is particularly renowned for its clear warm waters, rich, abundant tropical marine life, including turtles, eagle rays and an impressive concentration of sharks species. Moorea attracts about 25,000 divers each year due to the effortless diving conditions with little or no currents, incredible visibility, and exhilarating encounters with blacktip reef, grey or lemon sharks during feeding time.Exquisite Moorish idols, bright butterflyfish, spotted eels, and napoleon wrasse are primary elements of the seascape. Dive sites include:Shark Dining Room, Blue Island, The Pas, Rose Garden, The Canyon, Taotoi Plateau, The Coral Wall, and Taotaha Inlet.

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Tahiti offers great scuba diving conditions for beginners as well as advanced divers. Tahiti is the ideal location to become use to new gear and build confidence before traveling to the outer islands. It is also known for its excellent CMAS & PADI trainings. Come & discover the wilderness of the Peninsula, meet turtles, giant wrasses, sharks, even humback whales (from July to October), and wreck diving right outside Papeete… You might be surprised when discovering the colorful underwater landscape as well as the numerous diving sites, featuring nice easy wrecks, gorgon walls and gardens of beautiful corals…Best dive sites: The Aquarium, Saint Etienne Drop-offs, The Source, Arue Drop-offs, Abyss (Matavai Roses) and Gorgonians (Paea), the wrecks

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Life is simple and tranquil on Rangiroa. The atoll is the second largest in the South pacific with 120 miles of white sand beaches encircling a 400-square-mile lagoon that offers unique drift diving. Twice a day the marine world enters and exits the Avatoru and Tiputa Channels with the flow of the ocean’s current. The passes are chock-full of eagle and manta rays, jacks, tuna, barracuda, sea turtles, and sharks. Dive sites include: Motu Fara Pass, Napoleon Manta Point, Mahuta, Avatoru Inlet, Tiputa Shark Cave, Tiputa Caverns and Tiputa Aquarium

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Discover Manihi’s secret jewel, the black pearl. Manihi's lagoon provides shelter and sustenance for several pearl farms and a playground for water enthusiasts. Mild currents, clear water and shallow reefs create an ideal environment for both experienced and novice divers. View manta rays, napoleon wrasse, blacktip reef sharks, gray sharks, schools of snapper, tuna, barracudas and a host of small tropical reef fish on most dive sites. Dive sites include: Tairapa Pass, The Circus Drop-off, West Point and The Break.

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The atoll of Tikehau, is famous for its dense fish population. A paradise to the natives, with its wild character and friendly atmosphere, it is quickly becoming one of the premier diving destination in the world. Diving highlights include hammerhead, deep and grey sharks, eagle & manta rays, turtles, schools of barracudas, and dolphins. Dive sites include: Mara, Raira Cave, Tuheiava Inlet, Teavatia, Turtle Hole, The Thrust.

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Discover a savage and untouched marine paradise, where you will be soon surrounded by many sharks, schools of barracudas, jackfish, red snappers, napoleons, rays & turtles…From July to October, humpback whales enjoy the calm of the large fjord-like bays separating Huahine Nui & Iti…Best dive sites: The Aquarium, Saint Etienne Drop-offs, The Source, Arue Drop-offs, Abyss (Matavai Roses) and Gorgonians (Paea), the wrecks Avapehi Pass, Fa’a Miti, Hiva Spot, Coral City, Roses, The Yellow Valley, Parea Drop off, Fitii Drop off

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