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.

Upcoming Events

Dive Activity

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. 

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

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. 

Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

501 Sightings
J
46
F
25
M
40
A
27
M
24
J
44
J
58
A
86
S
20
O
42
N
54
D
35

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

407 Sightings
J
30
F
22
M
34
A
20
M
29
J
30
J
20
A
47
S
37
O
44
N
61
D
33

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

271 Sightings
J
12
F
30
M
24
A
10
M
10
J
28
J
52
A
37
S
29
O
12
N
21
D
6

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

208 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
8
A
11
M
24
J
30
J
47
A
22
S
17
O
18
N
17
D
8
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

200 Sightings
J
5
F
8
M
15
A
24
M
29
J
29
J
27
A
27
S
16
O
7
N
10
D
3

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

150 Sightings
J
3
F
10
M
6
A
8
M
6
J
10
J
4
A
24
S
21
O
15
N
30
D
13

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

1.5k Sightings
J
74
F
73
M
113
A
101
M
122
J
130
J
175
A
201
S
129
O
117
N
130
D
102

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

1.4k Sightings
J
101
F
84
M
136
A
114
M
124
J
101
J
149
A
180
S
95
O
103
N
116
D
97
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.1k Sightings
J
87
F
79
M
81
A
67
M
75
J
80
J
107
A
144
S
112
O
113
N
110
D
63

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

970 Sightings
J
44
F
34
M
63
A
66
M
83
J
100
J
117
A
160
S
69
O
89
N
71
D
74

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

821 Sightings
J
35
F
23
M
45
A
51
M
87
J
102
J
105
A
131
S
61
O
71
N
58
D
52
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

716 Sightings
J
75
F
44
M
31
A
30
M
49
J
46
J
77
A
94
S
55
O
79
N
80
D
56

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

692 Sightings
J
24
F
20
M
51
A
64
M
63
J
67
J
87
A
101
S
52
O
68
N
49
D
46

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

690 Sightings
J
26
F
40
M
40
A
51
M
67
J
51
J
84
A
116
S
56
O
44
N
59
D
56

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

587 Sightings
J
28
F
32
M
33
A
46
M
58
J
57
J
60
A
98
S
35
O
38
N
68
D
34

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

563 Sightings
J
25
F
17
M
33
A
39
M
42
J
69
J
72
A
72
S
45
O
49
N
56
D
44

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

459 Sightings
J
43
F
13
M
39
A
38
M
39
J
24
J
28
A
76
S
43
O
31
N
43
D
42
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

450 Sightings
J
37
F
28
M
29
A
27
M
32
J
29
J
50
A
80
S
41
O
34
N
42
D
21

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

449 Sightings
J
4
F
12
M
41
A
45
M
65
J
98
J
65
A
74
S
8
O
23
N
10
D
4
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

425 Sightings
J
25
F
26
M
38
A
29
M
38
J
49
J
58
A
56
S
22
O
17
N
53
D
14

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

391 Sightings
J
13
F
12
M
28
A
34
M
27
J
23
J
56
A
51
S
35
O
40
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.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

390 Sightings
J
20
F
8
M
21
A
31
M
33
J
40
J
39
A
52
S
39
O
43
N
29
D
35

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

189 Sightings
J
2
F
20
M
5
A
20
M
11
J
24
J
32
A
29
S
23
O
9
N
9
D
5

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

184 Sightings
J
4
F
4
M
2
A
20
M
7
J
27
J
3
A
47
S
14
O
20
N
26
D
10

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

182 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
13
A
20
M
5
J
22
J
34
A
30
S
10
O
15
N
15
D
5

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

124 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
2
A
12
M
1
J
35
J
26
A
18
S
2
O
4
N
8
D
10

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

120 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
11
M
10
J
16
J
25
A
27
S
1
O
10
N
8
D
10

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

106 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
9
A
4
M
9
J
4
J
6
A
3
S
30
O
25
N
7
D
6

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

104 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
12
M
5
J
20
J
27
A
20
S
4
O
0
N
8
D
3

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

87 Sightings
J
1
F
9
M
0
A
9
M
0
J
5
J
12
A
33
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 approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

85 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
14
A
17
M
11
J
13
J
16
A
11
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

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

66 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
3
J
13
J
2
A
5
S
21
O
4
N
11
D
1

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

60 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
3
M
0
J
17
J
21
A
11
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
4

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

55 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
4
A
2
M
8
J
4
J
2
A
17
S
11
O
3
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

40 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
0
A
9
M
1
J
1
J
1
A
11
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
8