Explore Rangiroa

Rangiroa is the largest atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. Rangiroa is a true representative of the tropical islands which make up this archipelago. White sandy beaches, warm climate, palm trees and sparkling clear waters. Due to the fantastic diving opportunities here, there are numerous dive centres and dive resorts on this atoll which will take divers to see the best of the best in these waters. There are also a number of liveaboards which visit this region for divers who prefer that. There are two passes which connect the lagoon to the open ocean, the Tiputa pass and the Avatoru pass, both which hold some of the best dive spots in this area, and the third most popular spot is the lagoon. These diving areas provide divers of all levels and interests something which is bound to excite them. From the calm and crystal clear lagoon which is perfect for novice divers and dive courses, to the passes which have a high abundance of sharks, rays and many other species, drift dives, coral walls and plateaus and more!

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Dive Activity

Diving in Rangiroa

There are many types of diving which can be done here, for divers of all levels and with a wide range of interests. The lagoon here is where those diving for the first time, those taking other dive courses or in general novice divers will be able to enjoy the impressive marine environment while in calm and clear conditions. Out in the two passes, there are multiple opportunities for some gentle drift dives which will take dives from the open ocean into the lagoon, passing impressive coral reefs and coral walls. There are steep drop offs here which plunge down into the blue and those are the best places to spot some of the larger sharks and rays. The main type of diving here is the type which involves admiring the large collection of marine life. The dive sites here are all reached after a short boat ride.

Dive Centers

Y Aka Plongée

Y Aka Plongée

BP 423 Avatoru, 98775 AVATORU, French Polynesia
THE SIX PASSENGERS

THE SIX PASSENGERS

BP 128, 98775 AVATORU - RANGIROA, French Polynesia

Dive Sites

THE SIX PASSENGERS, 98775 AVATORU - RANGIROA
Eolienne (★4.6)

Eolienne (★4.6)

This site is the most intact coral area of Tiputa. Coral plateau between 10 and 14 meters followed by a steep drop off. Starting point of a drift dive that ends at the Angle site or in the pass. Perfectly adapted to divers of all levels.
THE SIX PASSENGERS, 98775 AVATORU - RANGIROA
Passe de Tiputa (★4.6)

Passe de Tiputa (★4.6)

The Tiputa pass originally known as the Hiria pass. It separates Avatoru from the village of Tiputa on Rangiroa atoll. With a length of 900 m and a width of 400 m, it is between 14 and 55 m deep. The currents can be very strong and changeable. The presence of a local guide is therefore recommended.
THE SIX PASSENGERS, 98775 AVATORU - RANGIROA
Motu Nuhi-Nuhi (l’aquarium) (★4.5)

Motu Nuhi-Nuhi (l’aquarium) (★4.5)

The Motu Nuhi Nuhi is a small coral islet located in the lagoon in the axis of the Tiputa pass. This site is sheltered from currents and shallow, which is ideal for beginners, training or rehabilitation dives.

The best Months to dive in Rangiroa

This tropical atoll is, luckily for divers, accessible year-round. The summer here runs between November and April and is not only the warmest time of the year, but also the most humid, the winter time is drier and cooler. The air temperatures range between 24 degrees Celsius in the winter and 32 degrees Celsius in the midst of summer. Luckily, the water temperatures don’t drop below 24 degrees Celsius and averages around 29 degrees, so this is a tropical and warm diving destination. The visibility is above average here throughout the year, with ranges between 10 and 30 metres, sometimes reaching higher than that.

There is such a high density of marine species here that there is something exciting to see year round.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Rangiroa

The density of marine life is second to none. There is a wide array of species to be spotted here and bound to get divers blood pumping. Marine species here range from the tiny but vibrant Nudibranchs, to Scorpionfish, Stonefish, Anemones and Anemonefish, Moray Eels, Napoleon Groupers, Marbled Groupers, Bigeye Jackfish, African Pompano Jackfish, Bue Jackfish, Barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse, Dogtooth Tuna and more! Of course what attracts many divers to this region are the sharks, and sharks there are! The species which are spotted here include Whitetip Sharks, Blackfin Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Blacktip Sharks and Silvertip Sharks. Some of the other spectacular species found here include Sea Turtles, Manta Rays, Leopard Rays, Eagle Rays, and on the best days, Bottlenose Dolphins. There is definitely no lack of marine species to be seen here, and what makes it so exciting is that so many of these are spotted in every dive.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Tobias Friedrich
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
232
D
120

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
2.3k Sightings
J
140
F
98
M
93
A
192
M
167
J
176
J
265
A
388
S
287
O
245
N
171
D
98

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
1.2k Sightings
J
66
F
32
M
43
A
82
M
64
J
79
J
126
A
253
S
178
O
140
N
84
D
50

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

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
1.1k Sightings
J
50
F
41
M
50
A
65
M
71
J
89
J
133
A
175
S
187
O
153
N
81
D
39

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
1.1k Sightings
J
53
F
53
M
57
A
63
M
85
J
80
J
139
A
201
S
133
O
115
N
56
D
59
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
445 Sightings
J
30
F
12
M
11
A
47
M
44
J
36
J
64
A
79
S
50
O
40
N
20
D
12
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark
373 Sightings
J
31
F
31
M
38
A
29
M
10
J
0
J
19
A
68
S
58
O
47
N
17
D
25
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
367 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
4
A
30
M
38
J
25
J
57
A
82
S
51
O
47
N
18
D
0
AdobeStock-wildestanimal
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin
249 Sightings
J
12
F
0
M
1
A
21
M
20
J
29
J
29
A
53
S
35
O
24
N
14
D
11
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
140 Sightings
J
1
F
13
M
0
A
0
M
12
J
0
J
19
A
21
S
27
O
29
N
18
D
0
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark
114 Sightings
J
0
F
14
M
14
A
19
M
12
J
19
J
1
A
12
S
13
O
0
N
10
D
0
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
2.2k Sightings
J
140
F
88
M
99
A
133
M
138
J
163
J
277
A
383
S
312
O
234
N
132
D
93
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
2.1k Sightings
J
124
F
76
M
81
A
137
M
160
J
161
J
308
A
346
S
275
O
232
N
130
D
85
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark
1.9k Sightings
J
82
F
87
M
87
A
102
M
121
J
152
J
248
A
344
S
252
O
253
N
117
D
87

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
1.6k Sightings
J
89
F
57
M
57
A
119
M
97
J
127
J
189
A
298
S
205
O
178
N
113
D
58

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
1.4k Sightings
J
90
F
41
M
47
A
92
M
79
J
99
J
165
A
273
S
178
O
165
N
84
D
46

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
1.1k Sightings
J
64
F
38
M
40
A
83
M
53
J
78
J
122
A
262
S
163
O
150
N
58
D
38

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
1.1k Sightings
J
60
F
28
M
27
A
68
M
51
J
79
J
133
A
252
S
156
O
129
N
56
D
38

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

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
1k Sightings
J
69
F
26
M
29
A
63
M
52
J
65
J
107
A
237
S
160
O
133
N
69
D
28

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
936 Sightings
J
67
F
24
M
21
A
55
M
43
J
55
J
122
A
217
S
138
O
125
N
48
D
21

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
925 Sightings
J
66
F
23
M
29
A
61
M
52
J
51
J
82
A
201
S
162
O
107
N
58
D
33

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
864 Sightings
J
52
F
20
M
24
A
51
M
34
J
52
J
100
A
235
S
138
O
94
N
47
D
17

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
792 Sightings
J
36
F
16
M
21
A
55
M
28
J
40
J
87
A
137
S
146
O
116
N
74
D
36

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
746 Sightings
J
26
F
16
M
14
A
49
M
23
J
46
J
84
A
197
S
119
O
101
N
41
D
30

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
665 Sightings
J
47
F
15
M
20
A
37
M
17
J
25
J
60
A
197
S
102
O
109
N
15
D
21

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
630 Sightings
J
30
F
0
M
13
A
27
M
39
J
56
J
57
A
78
S
145
O
109
N
53
D
23

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

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
539 Sightings
J
29
F
0
M
11
A
26
M
15
J
22
J
50
A
168
S
89
O
90
N
26
D
13

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
501 Sightings
J
26
F
0
M
13
A
23
M
29
J
42
J
47
A
113
S
79
O
97
N
12
D
20

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
496 Sightings
J
33
F
0
M
0
A
22
M
12
J
21
J
34
A
176
S
87
O
79
N
20
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
459 Sightings
J
22
F
1
M
12
A
30
M
14
J
24
J
29
A
124
S
97
O
92
N
0
D
14

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock-Miroslav Halama
Cornetfish

Cornetfish
432 Sightings
J
26
F
21
M
17
A
28
M
14
J
41
J
33
A
52
S
79
O
87
N
23
D
11
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark
423 Sightings
J
31
F
19
M
16
A
27
M
24
J
15
J
73
A
42
S
77
O
41
N
30
D
28

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock-bearacreative
Emperor

Emperor
386 Sightings
J
31
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
3
J
2
J
32
A
104
S
84
O
97
N
12
D
15

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish
329 Sightings
J
23
F
0
M
1
A
12
M
3
J
1
J
30
A
54
S
80
O
92
N
20
D
13

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
302 Sightings
J
20
F
16
M
0
A
35
M
16
J
16
J
35
A
34
S
56
O
28
N
32
D
14

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
255 Sightings
J
0
F
16
M
2
A
9
M
14
J
18
J
31
A
21
S
77
O
33
N
34
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

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish

Garfish
250 Sightings
J
14
F
0
M
1
A
13
M
0
J
2
J
36
A
105
S
29
O
23
N
27
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
243 Sightings
J
16
F
0
M
1
A
17
M
16
J
24
J
25
A
44
S
36
O
43
N
21
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
188 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
13
M
13
J
21
J
24
A
28
S
25
O
30
N
11
D
20

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Stonefish

Stonefish
170 Sightings
J
14
F
0
M
15
A
0
M
23
J
15
J
15
A
35
S
22
O
20
N
0
D
11

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

Total number of species approx.: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.
Flounder

Flounder
118 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
14
J
17
J
0
A
11
S
25
O
10
N
12
D
16

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