Dive Sites in French Polynesia (Australasia)

These gorgeous islands are honeymoon-perfect for relaxation and exploration! French Polynesia is a South Pacific sanctuary for marine life from rays, sharks and turtles to dolphins and whales.

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Dive Site Overview for French Polynesia

These gorgeous islands are perfect for relaxing and offer a wealth of marine life around that is colourful and diverse and the waters are so clear they are perfect for snorkelling as well as scuba diving. French Polynesia is a gathering of 6 groups of islands totalling 130 islands altogether, the most well known islands including Tahiti and Bora Bora.

Rangiroa is the divers favourite hosting the largest atoll in the South Pacific with a crystal-clear lagoon stretching out 60km long and 30km wide. This huge lagoon attracts hundred of tropical fish including jacks, tuna, barracuda, turtles, manta rays, eagle rays and dolfins not to mention the gorgeous reef corals. Further out, divers can see reef sharks, hammerheads, Napoleons and other large pelagics.

Manihi also has a fabulous lagoon with equally amazing reef life and over 60 pearl farms. Rurutu is the place to experience humpback whales from July – October when they migrate around the islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Rangiroa and Moorea to mate and give birth.

Tidal changes around Rangiroa affect when to dive and can generate currents (great for drift diving!) and swell. There are some excellent dive sites the channels leave the lagoon such as Tairapa Pass. Manta ray season in Rangiroa is from early September to mid-October and hammerheads from Janurary to February. Water temperatures range from 26 – 30°C.

Diving inside the lagoons is sheltered and perfect for all diving abilities, around the channels can be a little more advanced (expect currents up to 6 knots) so drift diving is common, generally when the tides are coming in.