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.

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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.

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

4.1k Sightings
J
307
F
230
M
281
A
350
M
295
J
315
J
389
A
366
S
423
O
443
N
377
D
305

Hawksbill Turtle

2k Sightings
J
131
F
89
M
132
A
163
M
164
J
152
J
202
A
170
S
262
O
213
N
163
D
157

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

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

1.3k Sightings
J
78
F
59
M
66
A
99
M
81
J
104
J
157
A
162
S
149
O
96
N
117
D
92

Reef Manta Ray

882 Sightings
J
51
F
30
M
59
A
43
M
60
J
62
J
125
A
146
S
106
O
65
N
73
D
62

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

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

815 Sightings
J
34
F
36
M
51
A
37
M
64
J
66
J
98
A
133
S
94
O
87
N
76
D
39

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

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

477 Sightings
J
39
F
22
M
37
A
30
M
29
J
32
J
38
A
65
S
49
O
51
N
50
D
35

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

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

327 Sightings
J
14
F
11
M
15
A
35
M
15
J
22
J
43
A
24
S
59
O
28
N
53
D
8

Blacktip Reef Shark

2.8k Sightings
J
180
F
138
M
179
A
232
M
234
J
212
J
304
A
358
S
326
O
284
N
225
D
177

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

2.4k Sightings
J
201
F
117
M
150
A
203
M
147
J
178
J
242
A
261
S
296
O
238
N
235
D
181

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

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

2.2k Sightings
J
210
F
123
M
162
A
195
M
128
J
147
J
198
A
217
S
256
O
188
N
206
D
184

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

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

2k Sightings
J
143
F
68
M
94
A
127
M
110
J
139
J
229
A
256
S
270
O
194
N
216
D
172

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

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

1.8k Sightings
J
138
F
42
M
98
A
128
M
117
J
156
J
186
A
210
S
252
O
166
N
180
D
137

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.4k Sightings
J
112
F
73
M
95
A
102
M
86
J
87
J
136
A
167
S
171
O
150
N
145
D
90

Lemon Shark

1.4k Sightings
J
91
F
85
M
100
A
117
M
119
J
129
J
163
A
172
S
137
O
113
N
117
D
65

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

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

1.1k Sightings
J
78
F
45
M
59
A
66
M
69
J
52
J
117
A
127
S
129
O
93
N
150
D
100

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

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

1.1k Sightings
J
101
F
22
M
43
A
97
M
46
J
89
J
113
A
101
S
174
O
96
N
106
D
79

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

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

1.1k Sightings
J
80
F
33
M
59
A
96
M
74
J
61
J
99
A
125
S
161
O
76
N
97
D
89

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

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

950 Sightings
J
72
F
43
M
40
A
78
M
53
J
72
J
100
A
91
S
100
O
109
N
133
D
59

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

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

850 Sightings
J
56
F
15
M
64
A
97
M
37
J
67
J
98
A
64
S
104
O
78
N
109
D
61

Grey Reef Shark

704 Sightings
J
82
F
47
M
34
A
31
M
49
J
46
J
65
A
72
S
55
O
82
N
80
D
61

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

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

605 Sightings
J
63
F
19
M
41
A
67
M
27
J
42
J
68
A
57
S
86
O
62
N
55
D
18

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

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

542 Sightings
J
32
F
9
M
31
A
47
M
3
J
38
J
68
A
36
S
91
O
64
N
94
D
29

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

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

517 Sightings
J
25
F
30
M
31
A
59
M
14
J
23
J
67
A
59
S
76
O
45
N
50
D
38

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

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

438 Sightings
J
52
F
21
M
32
A
35
M
16
J
29
J
38
A
58
S
56
O
33
N
41
D
27

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

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

432 Sightings
J
50
F
18
M
37
A
33
M
28
J
25
J
22
A
51
S
37
O
35
N
55
D
41

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

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

424 Sightings
J
27
F
19
M
27
A
36
M
25
J
26
J
20
A
47
S
72
O
57
N
27
D
41

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

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

294 Sightings
J
23
F
5
M
10
A
29
M
14
J
32
J
31
A
24
S
47
O
16
N
54
D
9

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

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

253 Sightings
J
13
F
4
M
5
A
37
M
1
J
25
J
28
A
33
S
28
O
3
N
58
D
18

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

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

205 Sightings
J
36
F
4
M
8
A
19
M
2
J
6
J
28
A
33
S
32
O
1
N
36
D
0

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.

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