Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in French Polynesia

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

In front of Toahotu, Tahiti Iti.

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.

One of the best drift-dive in the world!!! Sharks, sharks and more sharks... Northwest of the Tiputa pass.

Less interresting than Tiputa, but a good dive. East side of the Avatoru pass

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nice site with coral pylons and some urchins. From fare

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.

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.

Northwest of Tahiti, out of Punaauia The Spring is also known as Fresh Water Springs.

Gentle slope to 15m then a wall to 50m! SW of Tahiti island. In the axis of the Faa Airport' landing strip. There is an airplane radio station named PW!