Best Diving in French Polynesia

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There’s nothing that says ‘paradise’ quite like French Polynesia, a collection of 118 islands and atolls in the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific. Stretching across a vast distance of more than 2000 kilometres, the islands are famous for their long-stretching sandy beaches, some of which feature unique black and pink sand and the opportunity to stay right on the beach front in this tropical utopia. The islands are also famous for magnificent waterfalls and lush, imposing mountains.

The islands are divided into five archipelagos – Tuamotu, Society, Gambier, Austral and Marquesas – and some of the most well-known islands are favoured by the rich and famous such as Bora Bora and Tahiti. Many people can instantly connect the islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora with scenes of calm lagoons, unspoiled beaches and rustic-looking thatched bungalows that stretch over magnificent turquoise waters, however what many don’t realize is that there is an incredible underwater scene also waiting to be discovered.

With coral reefs surrounding many of the French Polynesian islands, divers have an underwater playground to explore that is larger in area than Europe. With something for every diving level, the dive sites in French Polynesia are not to be missed. A number of sites are located within calm lagoons, making them ideal for those just starting out on their diving adventure. Fantastic visibility and exciting marine life all await divers in these protected lagoons, whilst the thrilling drift dives in the passes of Tuamota will provide a unique and exciting opportunity for more advanced divers.

Divers will be grateful for the top-class visibility at the dive sites, making it much easier to spot a myriad of different marine species such as manta rays, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles and even humpback whales.

One thing that international divers need to be aware of when diving in French Polynesia is that the pressure gauges make use of the Bar system rather than measuring pressure in psi. The conversion is simple to formulate as 1 Bar is equal to 14.5 psi.

Best Diving Destinations in French Polynesia

Although it is near impossible to go wrong when selecting a diving location in French Polynesia, for many the best dive sites surround the islands of Bora Bora, Tahiti, Tetiaroa, Fakarava North, Fakarava South, Rangiroa, Moorea and Tikehau.

Tetiaroa Island

A famous site surrounding Tetiaroa Island is that of the Canyons. Located on the outskirts of the calm lagoon but offering the same impressive visibility and magnificent aquamarine waters, this site is known for its collection of colourful reef fish such as triggerfish and butterfly fish and of course, the canyons. Keeping with the site’s namesake, at around 20 metres the site opens up to a maze of canyons with phenomenal swim-throughs, overhangs and crevices to be explored. Shoals of spotted eagle rays, lion fish, barracuda and humphead wrasse are all regular sightings at this site which is suitable for all diving levels.

Rangiroa Island

As the second biggest atoll in the world, Rangiroa boasts some of the best scuba diving around the Tuamota Archipelago. Dolphins, manta rays, turtles and tuna are all regular sightings in the surrounding waters, known as Wild Ocean and Peaceful Ocean for obvious reasons. These dive sites are also ideal for shark enthusiasts, with silver tip, white tip and black tip reef sharks encircling the island. Hammerheads are also prevalent in the area, especially in the rip currents that flow into the lagoons. Many divers opt for this exciting rip dive experience to catch a glimpse of these odd, menacing-looking creatures.

Moorea Island

Only a few minutes from the highly popular Tahiti, Moorea Island has a unique heart shape and some unique experiences that make it well worth a visit. Stingrays and moray eels abound in the area and there are even opportunities to hand feed lemon sharks, black tip reef sharks and white tip reef sharks. Now that’s something you don’t get to do every day!

Another shark infested dive site off Moorea Island is that of Tiki, so named for the small Polynesian statue that is submerged in the nearby lagoon and seems to be a focal point for many of the surrounding sharks. This site is well-known to feature large numbers of grey sharks and offers excellent visibility. Some divers have even encountered humpback whales in the area, which would be something truly spectacular to add to the dive log!

Manihi Island

Known for its cultured black pearls that bring many to the island, Manihi is also famous for a wall dive known as the Drop Off. Starting off at a mere 3 metres, the wall suddenly drops off to over 1400 metres and will feature Napolean wrasse, grey sharks and plenty of barracudas along the way. The Drop Off is not suitable for beginner divers but is truly a thrilling experience for those with the correct qualifications and experience.

Getting to French Polynesia

Although the islands are dispersed over far distances in the middle of the South Pacific, arranging travel is fairly easy with 46 airports available and regular inter-island travel opportunities. Major airports are located on the most popular islands which are Bora Bora, Tahiti, Rangiroa, Raiatea and Huahine and can be reached from over 30 of the world’s biggest cities. The majority of flights will land at Faa’a Airport in Tahiti, the area’s largest airport, and then it is possible to fly or travel by boat to your final holiday destination. A great thing to note is that travel visas are not required for short visits to French Polynesia, making travel arrangements even more hassle-free. There are a multitude of resorts, hotels and tourist facilities on the islands to cater for your every need.

When to Visit French Polynesia

The tropical paradise that is French Polynesia boasts a welcoming climate at any time of year. The warm, long-stretching summers from June to September offer high humidity and cool evening breezes, with water temperatures remaining constant at 27°C. Underwater visibility is slightly reduced in the rainy season which runs from November to February, although this has done little to deter divers from experiencing the underwater wonders of French Polynesia.

Where to Stay in French Polynesia

French Polynesia has experienced a recent soar in popularity with scuba divers and as such there are now many operators, liveaboards and dive shops to choose from. These dive operators will provide equipment, training, knowledgeable local guides for reef dives and night dives and much more. Some companies specialise in diving opportunities that focus on one of the area’s many highlights, such as shark diving, shark feeding or manta ray feeding.

Dive Sites Reviews in French Polynesia

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