Explore Bora Bora

Bora Bora is perhaps the most famous of the French Polynesian islands, nestled away in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is a 30km² island group, geographically part of the Leeward Islands. Popular with honeymooners, it is a location often found on “dream holiday” lists for its sheer, tropical beauty. It is hard to imagine a more perfect destination - volcanic islands surrounding a crystalline turquoise lagoon; craggy, palm tree covered hills and enveloped by still, cobalt ocean, as far as the eye can see. 

Diving in Bora Bora is mainly accessed through high-end dive resorts. There are a number of dive centres but they too operate within resorts, though it is possible to stay in more humble accommodation and still dive with them. The calm waters of French Polynesia make it a popular liveaboard destination too.

Bora Bora is made up of a number of small islets or “motus”, ringed by a coral barrier reef with only one inlet for boats. As a result, Bora Bora diving is unaffected by strong ocean currents and the lagoon remains calm. It is one of the best diving destinations in the world as its dive sites are generally suitable for all levels of divers, the visibility is fantastic and the underwater volcanic topography is fascinating. Highlights of diving in Bora Bora include the healthy, vibrant coral gardens and the big, abundant wildlife which includes hammerheads, mantas and even humpback whales.

Courses and Events

Try Scuba

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You'll be in protected water and well supervised by your instructor, so you can enjoy those unforgettable first breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. By the end of this short course, you'll have earned your SSI Try Scuba certification card and will undoubtedly want to dive again. Countless diving adventures await you, and this course is where it all begins. Get started today!

11 February +184 More
EUR 126.00

Basic Diver

In the Basic Diver SSI program, you'll learn the skills and knowledge you need to dive to a depth of 12 meters with an SSI Professional. It's a great way to explore the underwater world in greater depth by giving diving a try. The entire Basic Diver program can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver programs within 6 months, so you can move on to the next stage of your diving adventure.

11 February +184 More
EUR 256.00

Scuba Diver

With e-learning, confined water and open water dives, the SSI Scuba Diver program is the perfect foundation for becoming a safe and confident diver. You'll learn everything you need to dive in the open water to a depth of 12 meters with an SSI Professional. In this program, you'll complete almost half of the Open Water Diver course and easily upgrade your certification. All you need to do is complete the remaining theory and confined water sessions, plus two open water training dives.

11 February +184 More
EUR 345.49
USD 411.00

Deep Diving

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you everything you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mix of theory sessions and open water dives. You'll learn how to safely plan and execute your deep diving adventures, and how to use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most out of your deep dives. On completion of this course, you'll receive your Deep Diving SSI Specialty certification and be able to explore magnificent deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for certain additional training courses, making it the next logical step in your diver training.

11 February +184 More
EUR 101.00

Waves, Tides & Currents

Current diving opens up a world of new sites, often home to the most spectacular marine life. Dive from the shore and you'll discover the simplicity of walking along the beach and exploring your favorite dive sites. But waves, tides and currents can impact your dives and affect your safety if you don't know how to deal with them. The Waves, Tides and Currents SSI specialty will improve your diving skills and understanding, so you can dive in different environments safely and confidently. You'll gain a better understanding of dynamic environments in the wild, and learn about the environmental conditions that affect different dive sites. You'll also practice diving from the shore, in currents or in rivers to achieve specialty certification. Get started today!

11 February +184 More
EUR 101.00

Navigation

In this specialty program, you'll develop the advanced skills and knowledge you need to navigate safely and confidently underwater. You'll learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, leave and return to a designated point, as well as basic navigation patterns. You'll also learn how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All this sharpens your underwater observation skills, improves your diving safety and helps you get the most out of every dive. On completion of this course, you'll be awarded the SSI Navigation specialty certification.

11 February +184 More
EUR 101.00

Night Diving & Limited Visibility

Night diving requires different skills from day diving. The Night Diving and Limited Visibility SSI Specialty is the best way to learn night diving and practice the techniques you'll need to become a safe and confident night diver. In this program, you'll receive all the knowledge and skills you need to dive safely and comfortably at night or in conditions of limited visibility. Through a combination of e-learning and open water training dives, you'll learn to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment and communicate easily with your buddy at night or in limited visibility. At the end of the course, you'll receive Night Diving and Limited Visibility SSI specialty certification, and be ready to dive at night with confidence.

11 February +184 More
EUR 102.00

Open Water Diver

This world-renowned certification program is the best way to start your adventures of a lifetime as a certified diver. Customized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to give you the skills and experience you need to be truly comfortable underwater. You'll earn your Open Water Diver SSI certification.

12 February +138 More
EUR 669.12
USD 796.00

Enriched Air Nitrox (40%)

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your dive times and safety margins, and shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you'll learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge while learning to plan and dive safely with enriched air mixtures containing up to 40% oxygen. On completion of this program, you will be awarded SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

12 February +138 More
EUR 101.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Bora Bora

The scuba diving in Bora Bora is some of the best in French Polynesia. All of the locations offer famously good visibility, often over 40m. The majority of dive sites are located in or around the lagoon as well, making them calm and easily catered to novice divers. There are also several dive sites on the coral barrier reef outside the lagoon for more advanced divers. 

You can experience one of the highest visibility drift dives in the world at Teavana, whilst at Tupitipiti, you can explore some of the fascinating volcanic topography that makes Bora Bora so unique - huge coral bommies are found amongst walls, overhangs, caves and swim throughs. 

Top Wildlife Sightings in Bora Bora

Amongst the kaleidoscopic hard and soft coral gardens, you will find all the trappings of a healthy reef system including clouds of rainbow coloured fish and diverse macro life. Banks of bigger fish like barracuda, trevally and jacks are visible in many locations too - the sheer volume of marine life will take your breath away. 

One of the most famous aspects of diving in Bora Bora are the sharks. The water is nutrient rich, warm and bordering the deep Pacific, creating a perfect environment for these predators. Black and white tip reef sharks are common and you can also spot lemon, silvertip, gray and hammerhead sharks. Also within the shark family, many smaller ray species like stingrays, bat, leopard and eagle ray are found, as well as the huge and majestic manta rays at certain sites. 

Dolphins are frequent visitors to the island chain, though they are more commonly seen by boats than divers. Humpback whales visit these warm tropical waters in the summer months in order to breed and give birth, though they are more famously found in Moorea, Tahiti and Tonga. 

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
879 Sightings
J
51
F
29
M
58
A
43
M
60
J
62
J
125
A
146
S
106
O
64
N
73
D
62

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
555 Sightings
J
21
F
18
M
33
A
27
M
43
J
45
J
67
A
101
S
74
O
55
N
49
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
343 Sightings
J
20
F
5
M
14
A
15
M
25
J
27
J
50
A
55
S
56
O
42
N
16
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
122 Sightings
J
10
F
6
M
1
A
9
M
10
J
8
J
21
A
21
S
19
O
11
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
105 Sightings
J
8
F
2
M
7
A
5
M
3
J
5
J
3
A
12
S
36
O
10
N
13
D
1
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
77 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
0
A
9
M
3
J
0
J
23
A
6
S
12
O
9
N
9
D
0
iStock/Divepic

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
71 Sightings
J
5
F
6
M
0
A
5
M
6
J
8
J
12
A
1
S
2
O
13
N
6
D
7
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
58 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
4
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
8
O
15
N
8
D
10
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
802 Sightings
J
48
F
42
M
47
A
45
M
64
J
56
J
123
A
101
S
101
O
73
N
54
D
48

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
634 Sightings
J
39
F
11
M
35
A
30
M
52
J
37
J
67
A
108
S
104
O
57
N
55
D
39
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
547 Sightings
J
45
F
9
M
30
A
35
M
46
J
42
J
59
A
82
S
86
O
47
N
40
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
473 Sightings
J
44
F
11
M
19
A
32
M
43
J
29
J
40
A
75
S
74
O
47
N
38
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
399 Sightings
J
33
F
16
M
13
A
32
M
39
J
28
J
32
A
49
S
71
O
31
N
31
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
252 Sightings
J
27
F
10
M
10
A
16
M
16
J
13
J
15
A
42
S
56
O
18
N
17
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
240 Sightings
J
29
F
1
M
7
A
18
M
21
J
7
J
23
A
35
S
52
O
21
N
26
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
217 Sightings
J
30
F
8
M
14
A
17
M
15
J
9
J
17
A
25
S
39
O
17
N
20
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
210 Sightings
J
29
F
1
M
18
A
19
M
10
J
14
J
19
A
34
S
31
O
11
N
13
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
184 Sightings
J
14
F
0
M
9
A
15
M
18
J
19
J
10
A
31
S
29
O
18
N
13
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
153 Sightings
J
18
F
2
M
8
A
10
M
15
J
5
J
2
A
24
S
29
O
10
N
22
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
144 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
6
A
9
M
16
J
8
J
13
A
22
S
19
O
25
N
8
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
136 Sightings
J
11
F
1
M
11
A
12
M
12
J
3
J
16
A
28
S
17
O
12
N
8
D
5
iStock-FionaAyerst

Lemon Shark
90 Sightings
J
15
F
14
M
7
A
0
M
0
J
7
J
6
A
13
S
11
O
9
N
7
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
70 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
0
A
12
M
4
J
2
J
9
A
10
S
4
O
4
N
1
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
69 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
5
A
5
M
16
J
6
J
0
A
11
S
14
O
1
N
6
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
66 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
2
A
8
M
11
J
2
J
2
A
12
S
15
O
2
N
5
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
60 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
6
A
4
M
1
J
1
J
10
A
11
S
11
O
0
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
56 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
3
A
8
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
12
S
11
O
2
N
0
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
49 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
0
A
5
M
8
J
3
J
0
A
6
S
2
O
2
N
6
D
5

The best Months to dive in Bora Bora

Diving in Bora Bora is possible year round due to its perennially warm weather and calm ocean conditions. The French Polynesian summer months are from November to March. During these months, the weather is slightly warmer on average (30oC) with more significant rainfall, making the air feel more humid. It is common to experience heavy downpours in the mornings followed by sunny afternoons. This rainy weather causes an influx of plankton, which in turn attracts lots of pelagics, making this one of the most popular times of year to dive. 

From May to October is the dry season, when the rainfall is significantly reduced and the temperatures are a cooler, but still pleasant, 28oC. The water temperature can cool down to 25oC at this time of year compared to the 30oC waters found in the wet season. The benefit of diving in Bora Bora at this time of year is that it is when humpback whales travel north to breed and give birth. 

Dive Centers

BORA OCEAN ADVENTURES

BP 795 Tiipoto, 98730 BORA BORA, PYF

Dive Sites

TOPDIVE Bora Bora, 98713 Papeete

Anau (★4.6)

The dive site Anau offers easy and protected diving in the lagoon. It is possible to see manta rays all year because it is a cleaning station. Turtles are also sometimes observed.
BORA OCEAN ADVENTURES, 98730 BORA BORA

Tupitipiti (★4.4)

To the south-east of Bora Bora, this magnificent drop-off boasts exceptional visibility, allowing you to enjoy the most beautiful pelagic fauna. At a depth of 20 meters, the superb landscape of caves, faults and canyons is home to numerous nurse sharks, reef sharks and gorgonians.
TOPDIVE Bora Bora, 98713 Papeete

Toopua (★4.6)

Many tropical fishes gather along this drop-off, among them huge anemones and their clown fish. At the bottom of the wall, a large sand bank where leopard rays and eagle rays come to feed. The dive ends on a beautiful coral garden.
TOPDIVE Bora Bora, 98713 Papeete

Tapu (★4.6)

The Bora Bora classic! An exceptional dive on a magnificent shallow coral plateau with a beautiful drop-off. You can even dive in a cave and see lion fish
TOPDIVE Bora Bora, 98713 Papeete

Aquarium (★4.7)

The Aquarium is a magnificent coral garden, ideal for first-time divers and those looking to refresh their skills. The coral rock set on the beautiful white sand is home to a plethora of multicolored fish.
TOPDIVE Bora Bora, 98713 Papeete

Fafapiti (★4.5)

One of two dive sites in Bora Bora where it is possible to see the ballet of mantas. The dive is done along a drop-off. Very easy diving without current at a shallow depth.
BORA OCEAN ADVENTURES, 98730 BORA BORA

Tapu Canyon (★4.8)

A variation on the classic Tapu dive. A beautiful dive on a shallow coral plateau with a beautiful drop-off. You’ll cross several canyons, hence the name of the dive. As the site is close to the pass, it’s possible to see tuna.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Teavanui Pass (★4.5)

As in all the channels/passes, it is possible to see big pelagic animals passing. The current can sometimes be strong, so this dive is more suitable for advanced divers.
Aqualung

Haapiti (★4.4)

Haapiti is a nice drift dive. At the coral plateau you can visit 3 large holes. It is then possible to see different excavations and mini caves. Diving outside the lagoon visibility is excellent and can sometimes reach 60m.
Mares

Muri Muri (★4.6)

An outstanding deep blue dive site. Together, with grey reef sharks, you will discover a large coral plateau leading you to a sandbank inhabited by a colony of garden eels. In the deep open water, schools of trevallies, barracudas,and turtles are seen. This is a drift dive.