Explore Tahiti

The islands of French Polynesia are renowned for their romantic appeal and spectacular scenery, their sparkling turquoise water hardly seems real. Tahiti is the largest and most populous of the group of Windward Islands (part of the Society Islands) in French Polynesia. The population is densest in the capital of Papeete, which also has Faa’a airport, the only international gateway to the archipelago. Tahiti is divided into two; Tahiti Nui - the bigger northwestern area and Tahiti Iti, the smaller southeastern part. 

The Tahitians are a people shaped by the ocean and this love is often proudly displayed on their bodies, in the form of intricate tattoos of mantas, sharks, whales and turtles. As you would imagine in a place so defined by the sea, diving in Tahiti is very popular - it is known as one of the best dive destinations in the world. There are many luxury dive resorts scattered around the island, as well as a number of dive centres which are found mostly around Papeete. Dive courses are very popular because the conditions offer excellent water clarity and little current. Liveaboard cruises are also popular for those wishing to dive on multiple islands and most leave and return to Papeete. 

Highlights of diving around Tahiti are the unparalleled conditions as well as the diverse wildlife which includes many sharks species, turtles, dolphins and even humpback whales. 

Places to Explore

Papeete

12 Divesites 5 Centers

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. 

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ La Vavi

This is the name of the river which flows down from the valley. Here you will discover an overhanging reef covered with gorgonians. You can also spot white-tipped sharks fast asleep. Ocean diving up to 50m.

43
Logs
30
Divers
30.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Le Trou du Lagon

A richly diversified lagoon basin, from 2 to 30 meters, where you can observe sleeping white-tip sharks, huge tetrodons, scorpionfish, savon fish, milkfish, anemones, a magnificent coral rose, spondylls, turtles and leopard rays.

67
Logs
38
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tombant de Papeari

This reef drop-off is covered with gorgonians and soft coral. Without fail you’ll see schools of chubs and paddletail snappers at a depth of 20m. In the deep blue you might just meet mackerel scads being chased by bonito or tuna. Spadelfish (paraha peue) are regular to this spot!

131
Logs
90
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Le Fer à Cheval

A natural tunnel, shaped like a horseshoe, is carved into the coral and allows the lagoon to meet the ocean. On the side of the ocean you can see white-tipped sharks sleeping on the sand, dancing heteroconger eels, and pipefish (cousin to the seahorse).

9
Logs
7
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth

★★★★★ La Marado

A spectacular terrain : chimneys, a peak (called Oti point), water which is almost always crystal clear. An untouched fauna and flora: gorgonians, octocoralia, anemones, sea slugs, jack fish, murena eels, napoleon fish...

69
Logs
38
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
25.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Les Gorgones

A dive up to 50m in depth, perfect for budding photographers: orange and violet gorgonians, black coral, octocoralia, soft coral, ghost coral, sea slugs...

22
Logs
20
Divers
31.0 m
⌀ Depth
30.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Dérivante aux tortues

As the name suggests, this is a drift dive where we often bump into turtles! With a little bit of luck we might also see jack mackerels, striped bonitos and dog-toothed tuna in the deep blue... We’ve even seen an Indo-Pacific sailfish!

17
Logs
14
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tables de Taravao

This is a “2in1” diving experience. First, explore a magnificent vertical drop-off with numerous crevasses, where passing platax and tuna are often encountered. The second part of the dive will take you to explore a superb platier covered with vaulted troughs over a vast expanse.

42
Logs
32
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ La Grotte du Pari

The cave is located in a lavatube between Teahupoo and Tautira. It’s a large tunnel, just over a hundred meters long and 20 to 30 meters wide.

8
Logs
7
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth

★★★★☆ La Source, Tahiti

The site owes its name to a freshwater spring emerging from the depths of the ocean. It gushes out at 5-6 meters below the surface and is easily visible due to the column of fresh water escaping from it. This is what is called a halocline. This site is well-known in Tahiti for turtle watching.

2,907
Logs
1,148
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ La Faille St Etienne, Tahiti

Beautiful opening in the reef. A lot of verticality when arriving at the St. Etienne Drop-off. The upper part of the drop-off is very lively, with plenty of fish and turtles. A magnificent dive, especially with good visibility.

1,986
Logs
818
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ 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

Diving in Tahiti

French Polynesia is renowned as being one of the best diving destinations on the planet. This paradisiacal landscape is made up of coral atolls and lagoons surrounded by deep ocean which generates some impressive marine landscape and biodiversity. 

Tahiti diving is popular with all levels of divers as there are a good mix of easy and more complex dives available. The majority of dives are based on the calm coral reefs, though exhilarating wall and drift dives can be found on the outer edges of the reef. 

A couple of wrecks are found on the sandy seabed around Tahiti, including the impressive plane wreck of the Catalina. Due to the depth and exceptional water clarity, it makes Tahiti a great place for first time wreck divers. 

The best Months to dive in Tahiti

Diving in Tahiti is possible year round due to the tropical climate. The monsoon season is between November and March. The rainfall increases significantly, normally with heavy downpours in the morning followed by a sunny afternoon. This is the hottest time of the year, when air and water temperatures both climb to around 30oC. The rains don’t affect diving too much, though they do bring plankton blooms which can encourage more manta rays to appear. 

The dry season is between May to October. Though it is the driest time of year, it is the coolest and temperatures of the air and the water drop to 26oC - still very pleasant! July to November is the best time of year to see migrating humpback whales who travel up to these shallow waters to breed and give birth before returning to the Antarctic with their calves. 

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

TAHITI DIVE MANAGEMENT

BP 2006, 98703 PUNAAUIA, PYF

Dive and Sea Tahiti

BP 42681, 98713 PAPEETE, PYF

AQUAFORMATION

Marina Yach Club - Arue, 98713 PAPEETE, PYF

FLUID Tahiti - Diving Center

CHEZ MOSS FLUID BP 2006, 98703 PUNAAUIA, PYF

Ecole de Plongée de TAHITI

Marina du Yacht Club, 98701 ARUE - TAHITI, PYF

TAHITI ITI DIVING

Marina de Phaëton, 98719 TARAVAO, PYF