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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

Top Regions to Explore

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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

5.3k Sightings
J
357
F
298
M
371
A
513
M
430
J
462
J
567
A
534
S
500
O
496
N
413
D
334

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

4.2k Sightings
J
245
F
191
M
249
A
311
M
315
J
339
J
446
A
609
S
530
O
398
N
348
D
189

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

3.7k Sightings
J
192
F
164
M
212
A
267
M
253
J
347
J
446
A
515
S
489
O
337
N
284
D
170

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

3k Sightings
J
157
F
108
M
173
A
196
M
185
J
263
J
321
A
432
S
417
O
300
N
292
D
117
Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

2.8k Sightings
J
110
F
129
M
109
A
186
M
184
J
238
J
369
A
418
S
361
O
372
N
237
D
120
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

2.8k Sightings
J
153
F
116
M
179
A
263
M
249
J
252
J
308
A
306
S
319
O
259
N
192
D
160

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

2.5k Sightings
J
128
F
128
M
159
A
151
M
195
J
220
J
313
A
400
S
284
O
235
N
174
D
116
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

1.6k Sightings
J
82
F
47
M
95
A
96
M
137
J
135
J
221
A
259
S
194
O
146
N
134
D
99
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

501 Sightings
J
12
F
48
M
33
A
23
M
34
J
29
J
54
A
43
S
61
O
81
N
60
D
23
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

487 Sightings
J
39
F
45
M
61
A
38
M
27
J
5
J
25
A
73
S
64
O
60
N
24
D
26
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

303 Sightings
J
4
F
32
M
36
A
31
M
49
J
39
J
22
A
21
S
31
O
9
N
24
D
5
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

288 Sightings
J
7
F
26
M
25
A
25
M
30
J
21
J
46
A
30
S
15
O
21
N
32
D
10
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

286 Sightings
J
13
F
6
M
23
A
21
M
20
J
29
J
31
A
53
S
36
O
24
N
16
D
14
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

7.6k Sightings
J
431
F
398
M
508
A
598
M
571
J
649
J
866
A
1k
S
909
O
753
N
542
D
375

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

6.3k Sightings
J
371
F
298
M
443
A
504
M
443
J
561
J
712
A
792
S
752
O
597
N
520
D
335
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

6.2k Sightings
J
354
F
307
M
421
A
427
M
460
J
556
J
728
A
826
S
742
O
603
N
460
D
276
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

5.9k Sightings
J
283
F
328
M
397
A
363
M
439
J
542
J
650
A
788
S
704
O
652
N
450
D
283

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

5.7k Sightings
J
409
F
276
M
441
A
481
M
385
J
471
J
585
A
714
S
655
O
538
N
444
D
309

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

4.9k Sightings
J
266
F
168
M
291
A
351
M
328
J
428
J
552
A
715
S
614
O
501
N
391
D
261

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

4.4k Sightings
J
231
F
140
M
279
A
301
M
322
J
429
J
503
A
649
S
571
O
415
N
335
D
206

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

3.3k Sightings
J
229
F
114
M
177
A
243
M
210
J
299
J
348
A
465
S
485
O
305
N
282
D
137

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

3.2k Sightings
J
189
F
135
M
175
A
213
M
205
J
237
J
371
A
482
S
449
O
332
N
293
D
163

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

3k Sightings
J
168
F
115
M
178
A
201
M
187
J
251
J
330
A
464
S
396
O
278
N
289
D
120

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

2.4k Sightings
J
136
F
60
M
178
A
213
M
158
J
186
J
242
A
335
S
306
O
283
N
184
D
118

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

2.3k Sightings
J
157
F
84
M
162
A
156
M
180
J
138
J
199
A
322
S
364
O
237
N
202
D
109

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

2.1k Sightings
J
116
F
68
M
122
A
178
M
101
J
161
J
248
A
327
S
318
O
224
N
187
D
83
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

2k Sightings
J
104
F
92
M
160
A
168
M
152
J
188
J
254
A
186
S
296
O
154
N
160
D
83

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

1.9k Sightings
J
121
F
74
M
111
A
179
M
152
J
143
J
210
A
231
S
262
O
154
N
164
D
137
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.9k Sightings
J
101
F
115
M
160
A
200
M
182
J
199
J
223
A
204
S
145
O
134
N
169
D
76

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

1.7k Sightings
J
86
F
30
M
115
A
139
M
92
J
144
J
172
A
265
S
275
O
181
N
159
D
57

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

1.7k Sightings
J
76
F
31
M
72
A
90
M
93
J
129
J
184
A
260
S
323
O
212
N
164
D
71

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

1.7k Sightings
J
81
F
33
M
85
A
95
M
133
J
190
J
222
A
236
S
246
O
177
N
108
D
51

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

1.4k Sightings
J
91
F
41
M
69
A
73
M
80
J
126
J
114
A
166
S
273
O
198
N
132
D
79

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

1.1k Sightings
J
60
F
26
M
63
A
75
M
45
J
96
J
99
A
202
S
193
O
144
N
94
D
40

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

1.1k Sightings
J
61
F
40
M
53
A
107
M
59
J
96
J
154
A
155
S
155
O
102
N
91
D
54

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

1.1k Sightings
J
64
F
19
M
58
A
62
M
56
J
99
J
122
A
221
S
165
O
124
N
103
D
27

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

981 Sightings
J
68
F
50
M
62
A
75
M
38
J
89
J
87
A
104
S
171
O
87
N
108
D
42

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

904 Sightings
J
48
F
47
M
74
A
75
M
124
J
163
J
103
A
97
S
33
O
55
N
66
D
19

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

896 Sightings
J
66
F
27
M
40
A
55
M
56
J
96
J
94
A
81
S
172
O
137
N
42
D
30

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

625 Sightings
J
55
F
4
M
15
A
28
M
26
J
22
J
60
A
142
S
103
O
116
N
25
D
29

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

553 Sightings
J
21
F
16
M
43
A
34
M
36
J
52
J
85
A
48
S
85
O
50
N
33
D
50

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

472 Sightings
J
20
F
0
M
23
A
29
M
8
J
34
J
77
A
132
S
51
O
25
N
48
D
25

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

438 Sightings
J
43
F
6
M
9
A
18
M
8
J
15
J
35
A
54
S
96
O
99
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 approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

303 Sightings
J
22
F
7
M
22
A
10
M
35
J
20
J
44
A
47
S
57
O
22
N
4
D
13

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

285 Sightings
J
20
F
10
M
22
A
24
M
15
J
27
J
48
A
55
S
31
O
9
N
3
D
21
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

261 Sightings
J
0
F
24
M
20
A
24
M
11
J
14
J
43
A
26
S
22
O
54
N
13
D
10

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

206 Sightings
J
26
F
11
M
6
A
0
M
14
J
25
J
0
A
18
S
38
O
19
N
16
D
33

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