Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in French Polynesia
Ready to check out the best sites in French Polynesia for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 21 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best ocean activities in French Polynesia to suit your needs.
#1 - Hotel Kia Ora Beach
South Pacific, Pacific
Unrated
(1)
Excellent snorkeling site. Shallow, sandy, with coral mounds, giant morays, several types of stingrays, large number and types of fish.
Only a few miles west from the airport, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
#3 - The Aquarium
French Polynesia, Society, Tahiti
beginner
(0)
This is a very popular dive site. A Cesnas plane has been put there (7m deep), as well as two small boats (10m and 14m deep).
NW of Tahiti, into the lagoon. Just close to Tahiti international airport and Beachcomber hotel.
#4 - Tiputa Pass (Shark's Cave)
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Rangiroa
intermediate
(0)
One of the best drift-dive in the world!!! Sharks, sharks and more sharks...
Northwest of the Tiputa pass.
#5 - Avatoru Pass
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Rangiroa
intermediate
(0)
Less interresting than Tiputa, but a good dive.
East side of the Avatoru pass
#6 - Nuhi Nuhi
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Rangiroa
beginner
(0)
Sharks, Mantas, and a very nice collection of reef life.
West side of the motu, just south of the Tiputa pass.
Nuhi Nuhi is also known as The Aquarium.
#7 - Tiputa Pass (The Valley)
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Rangiroa
intermediate
(0)
Same sharks profile + Hammerhead sharks may be seen ner 40m deep.
East side of the Tiputa Pass, close to the Tiputa village.
Tiputa Pass (The Valley) is also known as Tiputa East.
#8 - The Marado
French Polynesia, Society, Tahiti
intermediate
(0)
Great wall with gorgonians since 20m deep. Napoleonfish, white tip sharks and some moray eels in open water.
Southwest side of Tahiti Iti, between Vairao and PK10.
#9 - The Faults of Arue
French Polynesia, Society, Tahiti
intermediate
(0)
Very nice cracks and roofs with a nice marine life (gorgonians, surgeonfishs, etc.). Take care of the swell the first 10 first meters...
Matavai bay
#10 - The Circus
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Manihi
beginner
(0)
This is the place to meet Mantas. They used to swin within 10m of water all year long! This is also a good dive to meet napoleon wrass, black-tip sharks, and eagle rays.
The circus dive site is located just between the Tairapa pass and the lagoon.
The Circus is also known as Le cirque.
#11 - West Point
French Polynesia, Tuamotu, Manihi
intermediate
(0)
The visibility is incredible (> 50m !!!). Marine life is great including sea turtles, grey sharks and blacktip sharks, barracudas and groupers, jacks and trigger fish...
Just west from the airport.
#12 - Safari Aquarium
French Polynesia, Society, Huahine
beginner
(0)
The SW part of Huaine is an outstanding place for free diving and snorkeling. Many corals scattered into a shallow lagoon.
It's an outstanding place for macro-photographers !
This site is in fact a large lagoon area located SW of Huaine, in front of Avea bay.
#13 - The Mounts of Céran
French Polynesia, Society, Raiatea Tahaa
intermediate
(0)
Dive down the pass at 32 m deep, and find the long peak in the middle of the pass. Stay at the top en enjoy the view !
The reef at the bottom is not very interesting, only Yellow sylaster (hydroids) are coloured...
This site is located into the Toahotu pass, at the east site of Taha island.
The two small islands around around the pass, called motu in Tahitian, are absolutely fantastic.
#14 - The cargo ship & The Catalina
French Polynesia, Society, Tahiti
intermediate
(0)
Two wrecks for this dive site:
- The Cargo ship: A 30m long cargo, 25m deep max.
- The Catalina: A two engine aircraft, sunk in 1964 as an artificial reef.
NW of Tahiti island. Just beside of the airport.
There is a mooring buoy there.
#15 - St Etienne Drop-Off
French Polynesia, Society, Tahiti
intermediate
(0)
Nice corals structures (around 15m deep). Reef species.
NW of Tahiti Island, out of Punuaaiua (N of Taipari pass, outer reef). Get Saint Etienne church as a landmark.
#16 - Tapu
French Polynesia, Society, Bora Bora
intermediate
(0)
Many sharks in this area. Both because of the shark-feeding, and cos of the pass proximity.
W side of Bora Bora.
NW of the Tapu motu (outer reef). S of the Teavanui pass.
#17 - Cite corail
French Polynesia, Society, Huahine
beginner
(0)
Nice site with coral pylons and some urchins.
From fare
#18 - Mahara motu
French Polynesia, Society, Huahine
beginner
(0)
All the lagoon in front of the hotel is interesting. Starting from the channel (leopard rays) to the reef (lionfishes, surgeon fishes, etc.).
Take care of the numerous urchins in the lagoon !
This motu is located on the NE side of Huaine, just fron of an hotel.
Enter the lagoon by the Tiare pass, and go to the north by a small channel. The hotel is located at the end of the channel.
The dive site starts from the end of the channel to the outer reef.
#19 - Haapiti
French Polynesia, Society, Bora Bora
beginner
(0)
It is not a deep trench but full of black tip sharks, big fish and butterfly fish. The dive is very calm although the ocean might be rough
Access via boat to the ocean facing the Motu.