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Explore The Society Islands

Diving in The Society Islands offers an enchanting adventure, renowned for its vibrant marine ecosystems and diverse diving environments. This archipelago, part of French Polynesia, includes Tahiti, Moorea, and the famed Bora Bora. Each island boasts a range of dive sites accessible by short boat rides, nestled within serene lagoons or beyond the protective barrier reefs. Whether you're a novice or seasoned diver, there's something for everyone. The lagoon dives resemble tranquil aquariums, where the colorful reefs teem with life, as schools of fish gather around. For those seeking excitement, the shark-feeding dives in Bora Bora and Moorea are unmissable. Here, lemon and reef sharks gracefully glide overhead, creating a thrilling spectacle as guides expertly orchestrate feeding sessions. Experienced divers can venture beyond the reef, where stronger currents unveil spectacular dive sites. Expect encounters with majestic sharks, playful spinner dolphins, and graceful turtles, all set against the backdrop of the open ocean. The Society Islands truly captivate with their rich biodiversity and unique dive experiences.

Top Regions to Explore

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Diving in The Society Islands

The Society Islands, a stunning archipelago in French Polynesia, offer some of the world's top dive sites. Dive travelers flock to the majestic lagoon of Bora Bora, where the lagoon's vibrant coral gardens host a dazzling array of marine life, including manta rays and reef sharks. For wreck enthusiasts, the waters around Raiatea feature fascinating remnants of World War II, inviting exploration of historical shipwrecks teeming with aquatic life.

Huahine's calm shores provide popular spots for shore diving, with easy access to vibrant coral reefs just offshore. Night divers are drawn to Moorea, where unique nocturnal marine behaviors come alive under the moonlit waters. The balance between shore dive accessibility and the adventurous spirit of liveaboard trips in the Society Islands ensures divers of all preferences find their perfect underwater experience, making it a dream destination for underwater enthusiasts worldwide.

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The best Months to dive in The Society Islands

The Society Islands offer excellent diving conditions year-round. Water temperatures are consistently warm, ranging from 26°C–29°C/79°F–84°F. This makes diving possible all year, though conditions can vary slightly with the seasons.

Visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, providing clear views of vibrant marine life. However, the trade winds, prevalent from May to October, can occasionally affect visibility and create stronger currents, making some dive sites less accessible. The less favorable period is during the cyclone season from November to April, although diving is still feasible with proper planning.

Top Wildlife Sightings in The Society Islands

The Society Islands, located in the South Pacific, offer a vibrant underwater ecosystem teeming with diverse marine life. Among the common reef inhabitants are colorful parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish, easily spotted by divers and snorkelers alike. The coral reefs around islands like Bora Bora and Moorea provide a rich habitat for these species, making encounters frequent and memorable. Seasonal highlights include sightings of reef sharks and manta rays, particularly around the more remote islands. Divers visiting between June and October may witness the awe-inspiring presence of humpback whales, as they migrate through the region. Additionally, green sea turtles are a year-round sight, especially near nesting sites on certain beaches. These encounters, while common in designated areas, depend on ocean conditions and time of day.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

4.8k Sightings
J
324
F
286
M
357
A
466
M
386
J
422
J
496
A
420
S
450
O
456
N
393
D
320
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

2.4k Sightings
J
135
F
116
M
169
A
230
M
211
J
227
J
251
A
202
S
268
O
212
N
174
D
159

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

1.6k Sightings
J
82
F
85
M
98
A
139
M
101
J
144
J
213
A
199
S
169
O
109
N
123
D
95
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

1.1k Sightings
J
58
F
39
M
75
A
64
M
93
J
98
J
163
A
185
S
124
O
76
N
82
D
70

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

955 Sightings
J
37
F
50
M
62
A
54
M
76
J
84
J
125
A
145
S
98
O
94
N
87
D
43

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

598 Sightings
J
42
F
31
M
44
A
41
M
42
J
41
J
58
A
71
S
57
O
61
N
68
D
42

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

431 Sightings
J
16
F
16
M
18
A
41
M
25
J
54
J
65
A
30
S
64
O
31
N
61
D
10
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

144 Sightings
J
8
F
9
M
12
A
10
M
11
J
10
J
20
A
16
S
5
O
19
N
12
D
12
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

3.4k Sightings
J
202
F
187
M
236
A
308
M
294
J
283
J
388
A
413
S
358
O
318
N
260
D
200

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

3.1k Sightings
J
201
F
164
M
237
A
281
M
225
J
266
J
363
A
332
S
332
O
257
N
269
D
210

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

3k Sightings
J
239
F
175
M
262
A
296
M
215
J
229
J
302
A
287
S
294
O
214
N
242
D
213

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

2.6k Sightings
J
147
F
84
M
153
A
201
M
186
J
226
J
293
A
322
S
298
O
222
N
234
D
190

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

2.3k Sightings
J
141
F
68
M
153
A
186
M
200
J
243
J
261
A
272
S
273
O
188
N
196
D
147
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
94
F
96
M
120
A
172
M
151
J
161
J
203
A
184
S
140
O
115
N
129
D
67
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
111
F
97
M
114
A
120
M
101
J
109
J
155
A
189
S
173
O
150
N
148
D
93

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

1.4k Sightings
J
79
F
74
M
82
A
111
M
107
J
103
J
159
A
180
S
151
O
101
N
165
D
117

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

1.4k Sightings
J
107
F
43
M
85
A
144
M
95
J
143
J
156
A
133
S
192
O
107
N
119
D
88

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

1.3k Sightings
J
79
F
38
M
84
A
121
M
100
J
89
J
141
A
142
S
172
O
89
N
105
D
101

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

1.2k Sightings
J
73
F
62
M
79
A
105
M
85
J
118
J
138
A
132
S
115
O
117
N
150
D
72

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

1.2k Sightings
J
58
F
27
M
101
A
143
M
102
J
122
J
124
A
112
S
116
O
103
N
125
D
78
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

903 Sightings
J
94
F
66
M
50
A
49
M
61
J
63
J
96
A
98
S
61
O
103
N
96
D
66

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

722 Sightings
J
32
F
17
M
53
A
77
M
33
J
63
J
103
A
56
S
94
O
68
N
94
D
32

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

720 Sightings
J
63
F
33
M
54
A
88
M
31
J
58
J
88
A
63
S
89
O
65
N
66
D
22

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

691 Sightings
J
25
F
40
M
42
A
87
M
35
J
47
J
96
A
80
S
86
O
51
N
59
D
43

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

583 Sightings
J
54
F
28
M
50
A
63
M
48
J
33
J
36
A
71
S
54
O
39
N
57
D
50

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

580 Sightings
J
55
F
32
M
50
A
49
M
24
J
58
J
44
A
80
S
66
O
39
N
53
D
30

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

498 Sightings
J
18
F
16
M
48
A
47
M
71
J
104
J
70
A
65
S
13
O
23
N
14
D
9

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

478 Sightings
J
28
F
21
M
38
A
32
M
27
J
49
J
24
A
52
S
72
O
59
N
31
D
45

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

341 Sightings
J
21
F
6
M
14
A
30
M
14
J
56
J
44
A
30
S
47
O
16
N
52
D
11

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

322 Sightings
J
15
F
6
M
18
A
35
M
6
J
54
J
49
A
32
S
34
O
2
N
52
D
19

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

253 Sightings
J
27
F
11
M
6
A
17
M
6
J
13
J
53
A
44
S
37
O
0
N
39
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

181 Sightings
J
17
F
10
M
18
A
24
M
15
J
26
J
22
A
15
S
7
O
9
N
3
D
15
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

171 Sightings
J
5
F
11
M
16
A
19
M
5
J
8
J
24
A
18
S
38
O
9
N
6
D
12

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

151 Sightings
J
23
F
0
M
6
A
14
M
13
J
10
J
28
A
16
S
15
O
9
N
2
D
15

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

128 Sightings
J
13
F
2
M
0
A
11
M
10
J
20
J
28
A
11
S
1
O
10
N
12
D
10