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French Polynesia

© AdobeStock/bomboman

Explore French Polynesia

French Polynesia, a stunning archipelago in the heart of the South Pacific, offers divers an unparalleled experience with its lush islands and pristine waters. Comprising over 100 islands, including the famed Society Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia presents a diverse range of dive environments. From the vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful fish to the dramatic walls and clear blue lagoons, the underwater landscapes are as breathtaking as the islands themselves. Dive styles vary, with options for shore dives, boat dives, and even liveaboard adventures, catering to all preferences and skill levels.

One of the standout features of diving in French Polynesia is the abundance of big marine life. The atolls' shallow lagoons and channels, with their strong currents, attract a parade of sharks, dolphins, and manta rays, offering a thrilling 'spectator diving' experience. Divers can perch in a spot and watch these magnificent creatures glide by. The region's remoteness and minimal human impact ensure a rich and unspoiled marine ecosystem, making it a top destination for those seeking both adventure and tranquility underwater. Seasonal variations bring unique opportunities, with different marine species being more prevalent at certain times of the year, adding a dynamic element to the diving experience.

Power Plug Type
C, E
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX
Tipping
No tipping / Service Staff / Tipping is not customary; service charges are usually included, but small gestures are appreciated for excellent service.
Currency
XPF
Dial Code
+689
Electricity
220V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−10

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Top Wildlife Sightings in French Polynesia

Marine life is the main attraction in French Polynesia. Plankton blooms bring mantas, sharks and rays through the lagoon channels. There are also numerous resident creatures such as turtles and dolphins which can often be seen on the reefs and out in the channels hunting the fish shoals. The reefs are covered in colourful corals and sponges providing a home to thousands of critters and reef fish. In the lagoons, often those with more sandy bottoms, stingrays can also be found in substantial numbers.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

4.9k Sightings
J
336
F
281
M
357
A
497
M
420
J
431
J
457
A
437
S
474
O
488
N
398
D
317

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

3.3k Sightings
J
210
F
161
M
195
A
276
M
245
J
261
J
283
A
478
S
419
O
342
N
271
D
165

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

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

3k Sightings
J
154
F
145
M
180
A
237
M
209
J
283
J
312
A
408
S
413
O
288
N
244
D
161
Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

2.7k Sightings
J
110
F
129
M
108
A
187
M
183
J
232
J
302
A
368
S
359
O
372
N
229
D
119
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

2.6k Sightings
J
147
F
110
M
165
A
252
M
247
J
233
J
255
A
254
S
313
O
260
N
182
D
157

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

2k Sightings
J
105
F
79
M
101
A
145
M
118
J
165
J
168
A
333
S
293
O
208
N
204
D
83

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

2k Sightings
J
92
F
103
M
125
A
116
M
163
J
166
J
213
A
330
S
235
O
211
N
142
D
98
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

1.3k Sightings
J
66
F
38
M
81
A
84
M
105
J
103
J
151
A
192
S
155
O
100
N
105
D
75
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

469 Sightings
J
39
F
46
M
60
A
37
M
29
J
5
J
15
A
66
S
65
O
59
N
23
D
25
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

391 Sightings
J
9
F
39
M
23
A
21
M
28
J
25
J
37
A
32
S
57
O
65
N
40
D
15
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

293 Sightings
J
4
F
32
M
36
A
30
M
49
J
39
J
16
A
18
S
31
O
9
N
24
D
5
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

276 Sightings
J
12
F
7
M
23
A
21
M
21
J
29
J
22
A
48
S
37
O
25
N
16
D
15
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

5.5k Sightings
J
327
F
277
M
346
A
469
M
441
J
462
J
557
A
730
S
690
O
566
N
380
D
282

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

4.8k Sightings
J
317
F
247
M
320
A
415
M
321
J
403
J
456
A
600
S
586
O
477
N
407
D
266

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

4.3k Sightings
J
336
F
216
M
312
A
396
M
283
J
327
J
371
A
525
S
503
O
419
N
338
D
245
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

4.2k Sightings
J
266
F
219
M
264
A
314
M
319
J
352
J
426
A
563
S
532
O
436
N
328
D
207

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

3.8k Sightings
J
227
F
140
M
212
A
303
M
240
J
311
J
360
A
553
S
483
O
393
N
311
D
224
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

3.4k Sightings
J
184
F
196
M
188
A
210
M
253
J
307
J
330
A
479
S
420
O
394
N
253
D
191

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

3.4k Sightings
J
201
F
113
M
204
A
262
M
235
J
313
J
313
A
498
S
458
O
321
N
277
D
179

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

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

2.5k Sightings
J
191
F
83
M
127
A
212
M
157
J
198
J
221
A
354
S
367
O
246
N
220
D
115

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

2.4k Sightings
J
161
F
105
M
107
A
164
M
149
J
154
J
228
A
369
S
325
O
253
N
233
D
133

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

2.1k Sightings
J
137
F
88
M
118
A
154
M
125
J
160
J
193
A
355
S
279
O
226
N
220
D
86

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.8k Sightings
J
114
F
42
M
134
A
187
M
98
J
130
J
143
A
260
S
224
O
213
N
147
D
82

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.8k Sightings
J
135
F
75
M
123
A
139
M
132
J
104
J
99
A
285
S
258
O
179
N
154
D
88

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

1.6k Sightings
J
103
F
63
M
90
A
162
M
121
J
105
J
149
A
180
S
234
O
128
N
133
D
111
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
92
F
94
M
117
A
169
M
150
J
158
J
168
A
174
S
138
O
115
N
128
D
66

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

1.5k Sightings
J
90
F
51
M
63
A
141
M
56
J
100
J
144
A
252
S
235
O
169
N
125
D
66

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.2k Sightings
J
77
F
17
M
68
A
107
M
59
J
96
J
77
A
227
S
203
O
144
N
128
D
45

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

1.2k Sightings
J
78
F
37
M
53
A
66
M
59
J
105
J
90
A
129
S
243
O
178
N
111
D
69

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

1.1k Sightings
J
59
F
25
M
40
A
74
M
43
J
78
J
89
A
177
S
228
O
158
N
109
D
50

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

981 Sightings
J
57
F
19
M
43
A
62
M
70
J
95
J
89
A
169
S
156
O
124
N
63
D
34
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

933 Sightings
J
67
F
55
M
75
A
58
M
70
J
81
J
89
A
95
S
157
O
75
N
60
D
51

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

912 Sightings
J
52
F
35
M
50
A
98
M
36
J
75
J
111
A
119
S
118
O
95
N
82
D
41

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

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

884 Sightings
J
56
F
15
M
38
A
60
M
38
J
69
J
55
A
189
S
145
O
108
N
89
D
22

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

834 Sightings
J
39
F
19
M
45
A
70
M
22
J
53
J
49
A
167
S
143
O
114
N
75
D
38

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

795 Sightings
J
60
F
43
M
53
A
69
M
27
J
58
J
71
A
81
S
145
O
78
N
80
D
30

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

621 Sightings
J
49
F
21
M
23
A
52
M
27
J
68
J
46
A
59
S
109
O
114
N
28
D
25

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

508 Sightings
J
51
F
0
M
1
A
21
M
20
J
21
J
39
A
113
S
86
O
108
N
22
D
26

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

398 Sightings
J
39
F
6
M
7
A
18
M
8
J
17
J
21
A
58
S
87
O
93
N
25
D
19

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

335 Sightings
J
17
F
1
M
7
A
25
M
1
J
9
J
37
A
128
S
38
O
25
N
39
D
8

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

303 Sightings
J
17
F
12
M
13
A
15
M
38
J
66
J
44
A
34
S
6
O
25
N
27
D
6

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

300 Sightings
J
23
F
7
M
25
A
14
M
32
J
21
J
43
A
45
S
53
O
22
N
4
D
11

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

290 Sightings
J
14
F
16
M
7
A
19
M
25
J
25
J
32
A
39
S
31
O
35
N
17
D
30

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

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

203 Sightings
J
19
F
7
M
20
A
18
M
11
J
25
J
16
A
29
S
28
O
4
N
4
D
22

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

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

152 Sightings
J
23
F
10
M
6
A
0
M
14
J
14
J
1
A
8
S
28
O
11
N
12
D
25

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