Diving in Papeete

Papeete is the capital “city” of French Polynesia. Located on the largest island of Tahiti in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, it is the touristic and financial hub of the archipelago with the only international airport - Faa’a. 

Diving in Papeete is a very popular activity. There are the archetypal diving resorts scattered around the commune, while there are also independent diving centres for those who wish to stay elsewhere. Diving courses are popular in French Polynesia as the diving is generally warm, calm and features exceptional visibility, sometimes exceeding 40m. Liveaboards are a great option if you wish to visit other islands to dive and most leave from Papeete. 

Highlights of diving in Papeete include the spectacular clarity and vibrancy of the coral reefs, the abundance of fish, macro and pelagic life and the beautiful conditions, which both novice and expert divers will adore.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ L' Aquarium, Tahiti

Certainly the best site for beginners in Tahiti. A coral ring which is ideal for a first dive. There are also 3 wrecks lying on the sand: a Cessna (5 m) and 2 boats.

2,275
Logs
873
Divers
10.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ La Vallée blanche, Tahiti

One of the most beautiful dive of Tahiti for its fauna. Grey sharks, white tip, black tip, lemon and sometimes even the majestic tiger shark. The dive is particularly recommended for drift diving.

3,117
Logs
1,120
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ La Zélée, Tahiti

The Zélée site is located near the port of Papeete, where you can find the remnants of the wreck of a small gunboat scattered in several pieces. The Zélée was a French gunboat launched in 1899 and sunk in 1914 during the Battle of Papeete.

615
Logs
393
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ La Faille d Arue

This wall starts at 5 meters, after crossing a beautiful coral plateau and then, at about 25m, you will find a beautiful cave that looks strangely like a church door.

2,545
Logs
881
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro

★★★★★ Les Éboulis

Just a few minutes from the Taina marina, this site allows you to explore the bottom of the channel and the shallow area between the lagoon and the coral barrier. A favored habitat for stonefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish, the site also reveals delightful surprises during night dives.

67
Logs
50
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Papa Whisky, Tahiti

This site takes the form of a vast amphitheater created by the collapse of a portion of the underwater plateau. Divers have two exploration options, one at the southern end of the arena and the other at the northern point. The depth of the site ranges from 8 meters to 40 meters.

449
Logs
264
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ La Dérivante du Phare

Just 20 minutes by boat from the Taina marina, you have the opportunity to explore the northwest tip of Tahiti’s coral plateau. A lighthouse guides boats to spot the coral reef and the beginning of the lagoon as they navigate around Tahiti.

2
Logs
2
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
30.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Tahi Nui

Located near the White Valley, this site houses the ancient remnants of the Tahi Nui boat wreck, resting at a depth of approximately 30/40 meters. A magnificent colony of rose-shaped coral adorns the seabed near a breathtaking drop-off.

17
Logs
16
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Hydravion et Goelett

One of the few wreck sites in Polynesia. You will explore the wreckage of the Catalina PBY-5A, given by the US Navy to the RAI (Régie Aérienne Inter-insulaire, the ancestor of Air Tahiti) and flown in the Polynesian air in the 1950s.

1,552
Logs
811
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ La Grotte de Arue

On the outer edge of the coral reef facing the lagoon of Arue, you will discover a diving site housing a small cave beginning at 27 meters and ending at 30 meters.

881
Logs
443
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ La Faille Pomare

The Drop-off at its peak, neighboring the Arue’s fault, often done as a drift dive. When the current is incoming, encounters can be spontaneous.

241
Logs
136
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Les Roses de Matavai, Tahiti

The rose-shaped corals become visible from a depth of about thirty meters and extend over a vast area as far as the eye can see. The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing. The corals are remarkably beautiful, providing a very pleasant experience as you explore this immense garden that seems to stretch to infinity.

744
Logs
378
Divers
29.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Papeete

There is no better place to experience tropical diving than French Polynesia. The dive sites display incredible biodiversity and fascinating topography, a relic of the islands volcanic nature so easily forgotten in the peaceful paradise above the surface. 

Whilst the stars of the show are undoubtedly the coral reef systems, there are a number of wrecks to explore, including WWII shipwrecks and a cessna aircraft. Liveaboard diving is popular in French Polynesia due to the calm, beautiful surroundings and most of these depart and return to Papeete because of its proximity to the only international airport. 

The best Months to dive in Papeete

Diving in Papeete is possible year round due to the generally stable weather though it does have a tropical monsoon climate. The wet season is between November and February, when the rainfall is heaviest, but precipitation can occur year round. This is the warmest season, peaking at around 30oC but yearly averages are 27oC. 

The dry season is from May to October. This is the coolest and driest season, though the weather is still comfortably in the mid 20s. July to November is the best time of year to see humpback whales and their calves as they migrate north to mate and give birth before returning to the Antarctic. 

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

FLUID Tahiti - Diving Center

CHEZ MOSS FLUID BP 2006, 98703 PUNAAUIA, PYF

TAHITI DIVE MANAGEMENT

BP 2006, 98703 PUNAAUIA, PYF

AQUAFORMATION

Marina Yach Club - Arue, 98713 PAPEETE, PYF

Ecole de Plongée de TAHITI

Marina du Yacht Club, 98701 ARUE - TAHITI, PYF

Dive and Sea Tahiti

BP 42681, 98713 PAPEETE, PYF