Diving in Society Islands
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Society Islands's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Society Islands, ecoregion. This region features 57 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Society Islands has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Society Islands (1)
Popular Spots in Society Islands (57)
Anau
Anau is a dive site in Bora Bora that features a coral garden and is known for manta ray encounters. Divers can expect to see at least five manta rays feeding and interacting in the area. The dive is accessible by boat and is best conducted in the morning during manta season from May to December.
Aquarium
The Aquarium is a coral garden situated on white sand, making it suitable for novice divers and those wishing to practice their skills. The site is home to a variety of reef fish, including butterflyfish, jackfish, and cornettefish. Divers may also encounter Javanese morays and stingrays during their exploration.
Aquarium de Cook
Aquarium de Cook is a dive site located just a short distance from the dive shop, making it easily accessible for beginners. The site features shallow depths with a sandy bottom interspersed with coral formations, providing a habitat for diverse marine life. Notable species include anemones hosting clownfish, hawkbill turtles, stingrays, trumpetfish, schools of blue triggerfish, moray eels, stonefish, and pipefish. The conditions are generally calm, with little to no current, making it ideal for introductory dives, refresher courses, and initial training for Open Water Diver certification.
Canyons - Moorea (Tahiti)
The Canyon dive site is situated near Ōpūnohu Bay in Moorea. This location is known for its diverse marine life, including anemones that host clown fish, as well as sightings of turtles and blacktip sharks. The entry to the site is from the shore, making it accessible for divers looking to explore the underwater ecosystem.
Dérivante aux tortues
Dérivante aux tortues is a drift dive known for frequent encounters with turtles. Divers may also observe various species such as jack mackerels, striped bonitos, and dog-toothed tuna in the deeper waters. Sightings of grey sharks and even an Indo-Pacific sailfish have been reported, highlighting the diverse marine life present at this site. The dive offers a chance to explore the rich underwater fauna and flora while drifting along the current.
Eden Park
Eden Park is a shore entry dive site suitable for divers from Level 1 or Open Water certification. The maximum depth at this location reaches 29 meters. Divers can explore a coral garden that is home to various marine species, including lemon sharks, blacktip sharks, turtles, barracudas, and clownfish residing in anemones.
Fafapiti
Fafapiti is a dive site located in Bora Bora, known for its shallow depths and the opportunity to observe manta rays. The dive occurs along a drop-off, providing an easy diving experience with minimal current. Divers can encounter mantas at various cleaning stations, where these creatures can be approached with ease.
Fausse Passe de Paea
Fausse Passe de Paea features a notable drop-off with various fissures and overhangs located at the edge of a vibrant pass. This site is characterized by a significant presence of turtles, which are commonly observed in large numbers. Additionally, divers may encounter Napoleon wrasses and leopard rays, which are prominent in this area. The site is accessible from the shore.
Haapiti
Haapiti offers a drift dive experience characterized by a coral plateau featuring three significant holes. Divers can explore various excavations and small caves in the area. Outside the lagoon, visibility is often exceptional, reaching up to 60 meters. Common marine life includes blacktip sharks, large Napoleon wrasse, and trevallies.
Hydravion et Goelett
Hydravion et Goelett is notable for its wreck site, featuring the remains of a Catalina PBY-5A aircraft. This plane was previously operated by the US Navy and later transferred to the RAI, where it served in Polynesia during the 1950s. The dive site has a depth range of 20 to 25 meters, providing an environment that supports a diverse array of marine life. The wreckage offers an opportunity to observe various species that thrive in this underwater habitat.
L’ile bleue/Blue Island
L’ile bleue, also known as Blue Island, is an isolated underwater peak located at the entrance to Cook’s Bay. Divers typically access this site from the shore. The dive involves swimming out into the open water before ascending into a coral canyon. At depths of 25 to 30 meters, divers can observe large anemones and clownfish, along with white-tip sharks. The area is also frequented by schools of jacks and hawksbill turtles, making it a diverse site for marine life observation.
L' Aquarium, Tahiti
L'Aquarium in Tahiti is an excellent dive site for beginners, featuring a coral ring that provides a safe environment for first-time divers. The site is home to three wrecks located on the sandy bottom: a Cessna at a depth of 5 meters and two boats. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of small, colorful tropical fish that inhabit the area, enhancing the underwater experience.
La Baie de Paea
La Baie de Paea offers a diverse coral plateau that is accessible from the shore, making it suitable for divers of all experience levels. The site features a gentle slope leading to a drop-off, providing opportunities to explore various marine habitats. The coral garden is rich in biodiversity, serving as a habitat for numerous lagoon fish and notable species found in Tahiti.
La Dérivante du Phare
La Dérivante du Phare is located approximately 20 minutes by boat from Taina marina, situated at the northwest tip of Tahiti’s coral plateau. The site is marked by a lighthouse that assists boats in navigating towards the coral reef and the lagoon's entrance. This dive site features a drift dive, allowing divers to cover significant distances while being carried by the current, which enhances the likelihood of encountering various marine species. The conditions here can vary, and divers should be prepared for the currents typical of drift dives.
La Faille d Arue
La Faille d Arue features a vertical wall that begins at a depth of 5 meters, leading divers across a coral plateau. At approximately 25 meters, there is a notable cave resembling a church door. The site is populated with various coral tables and a diverse array of marine life, including bonito, numerous parrotfish, groupers, and duck beaks.
La Faille Pomare
La Faille Pomare features a prominent drop-off adjacent to Arue’s fault, often experienced as a drift dive. The site is known for its rich marine life, with potential encounters including sharks and turtles. Although infrequent, divers may also spot a Tiger Shark. The dive site is accessible from the shore.
La Faille St Etienne, Tahiti
La Faille St Etienne is characterized by a notable drop-off with significant vertical features. The upper section of the drop-off is rich in marine life, showcasing a variety of colorful tropical fish and the possibility of encountering resting turtles in the crevices. The site is best enjoyed during periods of good visibility, enhancing the overall diving experience.
La Grotte de Arue
La Grotte de Arue is located on the outer edge of the coral reef that faces the lagoon of Arue. This dive site features a small cave that starts at a depth of 27 meters and extends down to 30 meters. The cave provides a habitat for various shrimp and fish, making it an excellent location for underwater macro photography. Divers can expect to observe a diverse range of marine life within this unique underwater environment.
La Grotte du Pari
La Grotte du Pari is situated within a lavatube, positioned between Teahupoo and Tautira. This extensive tunnel measures slightly over 100 meters in length and varies between 20 to 30 meters in width. Divers can explore the cave's floor, where a variety of marine life can be observed, including numerous sponges, sea cucumbers, shrimps, and bioluminescent fish. The site is accessible via a shore entry.
La Marado
La Marado offers a diverse underwater landscape characterized by chimneys and a prominent peak known as Oti Point. The site is known for its clear waters, which enhance visibility for divers. Marine life includes gorgonians, octocorals, anemones, sea slugs, jackfish, moray eels, and Napoleon fish. Notably, divers may encounter a red-eyed cod during their exploration. At the conclusion of the dive, divers can relax in the naturally formed canyons within the coral reef.
La passe de TIaia
La passe de Tiaia is characterized as a drift dive with steep drop-offs on both sides. Divers can expect to encounter schools of eagle rays, jacks, and various shark species, including nurse sharks and white tip sharks. The site offers a dynamic underwater experience due to its current conditions.
La Source, Tahiti
La Source is characterized by a freshwater spring that emerges from the ocean floor at depths of 5 to 6 meters. This phenomenon creates a visible column of fresh water, known as a halocline. The site is recognized for its abundance of marine life, particularly turtles that frequent the area to rest among the corals. Divers may also encounter various fish species and the possibility of seeing sharks. The entry to this dive site is from the shore.
La Vallée blanche, Tahiti
La Vallée blanche in Tahiti offers a unique diving experience characterized by its diverse shark population, including grey sharks, white tip, black tip, lemon sharks, and occasionally tiger sharks. This site is particularly suitable for drift diving, allowing divers to explore the underwater environment with the current. In addition to the sharks, divers can observe schools of silver jacks, triggerfish, and various species of Polynesian fish, contributing to the rich marine biodiversity of the area.
La Vavi
La Vavi features a shore entry leading to an overhanging reef that is adorned with gorgonians. Divers can observe white-tipped sharks resting in the area. The dive site allows for exploration down to depths of 50 meters. Within the coral gaps, a diverse array of fish species can be found, including surgeonfish, wrasses, and soapfish, along with juvenile fish. In the deeper waters, sightings of fusiliers, bonitos, and tuna are possible.
La Zélée, Tahiti
La Zélée is situated close to the port of Papeete and features the remains of a small French gunboat that was launched in 1899 and sank in 1914 during the Battle of Papeete. The wreck is scattered in multiple sections, providing a unique dive experience. Divers can observe corals gradually overtaking the wreckage, along with a variety of lagoon fish and resting sharks. At depths around 25 to 27 meters, rose-shaped corals can be seen, adding to the site's ecological interest.
Le Fer à Cheval
Le Fer à Cheval features a natural horseshoe-shaped tunnel in the coral that connects the lagoon with the ocean. Divers can observe white-tipped sharks resting on the sandy bottom, along with active heteroconger eels and pipefish, which are related to seahorses. The site provides a unique opportunity to explore the interaction between lagoon and oceanic environments.
Le piton aux gorgones
Le Piton aux Gorgones features a dramatic drop-off that begins at a depth of 25 meters. At this depth, divers will encounter a coral projection leading to a prominent peak with a diameter of 15 meters. The peak's base extends into deeper waters, while its slopes are decorated with various gorgonians, creating a striking underwater landscape. This site is accessed from the shore, making it convenient for divers to enter the water directly.
Le Tombant Saint Étienne
Le Tombant Saint Étienne features a vertical wall that begins at a depth of 5 to 6 meters and descends steeply. The site is home to a diverse range of marine life, including turtles, Napoleon wrasses, parrotfish, salema, pufferfish, and moray eels. The vibrant colors of the reef contrast sharply with the deep blue water, creating a visually striking environment for divers.
Le Trou du Lagon
Le Trou du Lagon is a lagoon dive site with depths ranging from 2 to 30 meters. Divers can encounter a variety of marine life including sleeping white-tip sharks, large tetrodons, scorpionfish, convict soapfish, milkfish, and anemones. The site is also home to a notable coral formation known as the coral rose, along with turtles and leopard rays. The entry to the site is from the shore.
Les 3 Pitons
Les 3 Pitons features three prominent underwater peaks, with the highest reaching depths of 6 meters, 12 meters, and 20 meters. The site presents a striking contrast between the deep blue water and the elevated formations. Divers can expect to encounter schools of blue fusiliers, along with turtles, whitetip reef sharks, titan triggerfish, and clownfish, which inhabit this area. The entry to the site is from the shore, making it accessible for divers looking to explore these unique underwater features.
Les Éboulis
Les Éboulis is located a short distance from Taina marina, providing access to the channel's bottom and the shallow regions between the lagoon and the coral barrier. This site is known for its diverse marine life, including stonefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish. Night dives here can reveal unexpected marine encounters. The coral garden features structures referred to as 'huts,' which serve as important habitats for juvenile fish.
Les Gorgones
Les Gorgones offers a dive site that reaches depths of up to 50 meters, showcasing a variety of marine life and coral formations. Divers can observe orange and violet gorgonians, black coral, octocorals, soft corals, ghost corals, and various sea slugs. The reef is home to species such as rabbit fish, surgeon fish, triggerfish, moray eels, and colorful damselfish. This site is accessible from the shore, making it convenient for divers looking to explore its underwater features.
Les jumeaux
Les Jumeaux is a drift dive site that requires suitable weather for optimal visibility. The dive features two prominent underwater peaks and a coral formation resembling a cathedral, which provides shelter for resting nurse sharks. The area is rich in marine life, with various fish species found near the reef, located close to Cook's Bay.
Les Roses de Matavai, Tahiti
Les Roses de Matavai features rose-shaped corals that become visible at a depth of approximately 30 meters, extending over a vast area. This site is known for its tranquil environment and the presence of iconic fish typical of Tahiti's lagoon. Divers can explore this expansive coral garden, which offers a unique underwater landscape.
Mamaru
Mamaru, named after the Tahitian term for white-tip sharks, features a gentle slope leading to a sand spit. Divers can encounter whitetip sharks at depths ranging from 20 to 25 meters, along with lemon sharks and various turtle species, including green and hawksbill turtles. The site is accessible from the shore, providing a unique diving experience in this marine environment.
Mur de corail/Coral Wall
Mur de corail, located near Opunohu’s Bay, features a dive area characterized by coral canyons and gentle slopes. The dive site is accessible to divers of all levels, with depths ranging from 15 to 20 meters. Marine life commonly observed includes numerous turtles, triggerfish, and occasionally leopard rays, lemon sharks, and whitetip sharks.
Muri Muri
Muri Muri is a notable dive site characterized by its deep blue waters. Divers can expect to encounter grey reef sharks and whitetip sharks, along with large schools of barracudas and bluefin jacks. The dive features a significant coral plateau that leads to a sandbank where garden eels are found. In the deeper sections of the site, divers may also see schools of trevallies and turtles. This site is classified as a drift dive and is accessed from the shore.
Muri Muri
Muri Muri is a dive site outside the lagoon near Motu Mute Airport in Bora Bora. Divers can expect to see grey reef sharks, hard and soft corals, and a variety of fish species including jacks, barracudas, and sea turtles. The depth varies, making it suitable for multiple skill levels, with the opportunity to encounter larger marine animals like dolphins and whales during migration season from August to November.
Papa Whisky, Tahiti
Papa Whisky is characterized by a large amphitheater formed by the collapse of part of the underwater plateau. Divers can explore two distinct areas: the southern end, which features yellow gorgonians, and the northern section, abundant in coral formations. The site offers depths ranging from 8 meters to 40 meters, making it a significant location for observing pelagic species. Entry to the site is from the shore.
Papetoai Aquarium
Papetoai Aquarium is a shore entry dive site that is accessible for both novice divers and those in training. The area features white sand and coral heads that are home to a variety of marine life. Commonly observed species include butterflyfish, parrotfish, clownfish, trumpetfish, and Maori snapper. Divers may also encounter hawksbill turtles and, at greater depths, spotted eagle rays. This site is suitable for divers of all skill levels, making it an ideal location for training and exploration.
Plateau aux tortues
Plateau aux tortues is situated in Fishermen’s Bay and features a broad, disc-like structure that is influenced by wave action. The perimeter of the plateau drops steeply, providing views into deeper waters where gorgonians and black coral are present. The area is inhabited by various marine species, including turtles, blacktip sharks, gray sharks, leopard rays, and titan triggerfish. The summit of the plateau serves as a habitat for lionfish and various reef fish, making it a notable site for divers.
Plateau de Vaiare
Plateau de Vaiare features a diverse coral garden interspersed with sandy channels. The plateau extends into a significant drop-off, providing a varied underwater landscape. This site is known for its rich marine life, including schools of jackfish, barracudas, and various shark species such as white-tip, black-tip, and grey sharks. Additionally, the area is frequented by turtles, enhancing the biodiversity of the dive experience.
Rotui
Rotui is a shore dive site with a maximum depth of 15 meters. Divers can explore the outer reef, which is home to numerous juvenile fish. Marine life includes blacktip sharks and lemon sharks, with the possibility of encountering a nurse shark during the dive.
Tables de Taravao
Tables de Taravao offers a unique diving experience characterized by a vertical drop-off featuring numerous crevices, where divers may encounter species such as platax and tuna. The dive also includes a section with a flat area adorned with vaulted troughs, providing an expansive area to explore. The topography is notable for its coral formations that have been elevated, creating an intriguing structure that serves as a habitat for various fish and crustaceans.
Tahi Nui
Tahi Nui is situated near White Valley and features the remains of the Tahi Nui boat wreck, located at a depth of approximately 30 to 40 meters. The site is characterized by a stunning colony of rose-shaped coral that enhances the underwater landscape near a significant drop-off. Divers can expect to see a variety of iconic Polynesian marine life, including lagoon fish, sharks, turtles, and pelagic species. The coral garden is noted for its pink corals, contributing to the site's visual appeal.
Taotoi
Taotoi is a shore entry dive site located at coordinates -17.481800, -149.890800. This site is known for its diverse marine life, including Javanese morays, black tip sharks, and various reef fish species such as napoleon wrasses, trumpet fish, rainbow jacks, and giant triggerfish. It is particularly suitable for beginners and first-time divers, providing an opportunity to observe these species in their natural habitat.
Tapu
Tapu is located near the airport in Bora Bora, French Polynesia. It is primarily known for shark sightings, including grey and lemon sharks, along with marine life such as Napoleon wrasses, trevallies, triggerfish, moray eels, and sea turtles. The dive site has limited coral formations, and diving is possible year-round in warm waters.
Tapu
Tapu is a notable dive site characterized by a shallow coral plateau that transitions into a steep drop-off. Divers can explore a cave within the site, where lionfish are often observed. The area is known for sightings of blacktip and lemon sharks, along with other marine life such as Napoleon wrasse, turtles, and flying scorpion fish. The dive is accessible from the shore, making it convenient for divers looking to experience its diverse underwater ecosystem.
Te Maru Ata
Te Maru Ata is a dive site situated near the Sofitel hotel at PK15. It features a series of canyons characterized by large coral formations, often referred to as 'coral mushrooms.' These structures provide shelter for whitetip sharks and Maori perch. Under calm conditions, divers can explore a notable canyon known as 'oho,' located adjacent to the coral reef.
Teavanui Pass
Teavanui Pass is a dive site accessible by boat, located at coordinates -16.494500, -151.776600. The site is characterized by the potential for strong currents, making it more suitable for advanced divers. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of pelagic species, including schools of jacks and barracudas. Additionally, blacktip reef sharks are frequently observed in the area, alongside a diverse array of coral fish. The dynamic marine life and current conditions contribute to the site's appeal for experienced divers.
Temae
Temae offers a straightforward dive experience that begins on a coral plateau at a depth of 15 meters. Divers can then descend along a gentle slope characterized by sandy tongues, where sightings of sharks are common. The area is home to a nursery for white tip sharks and sleeper sharks, alongside schools of coach fish, blue damselfish, and larger species such as tuna and jacks. Heterocongers, also known as arden eels, can also be observed in this location. The dive site is accessible from the shore.
Tiki
Tiki is a dive site located approximately 10 minutes by boat from the shore, oriented from north to west. The site can be affected by waves and currents, making access dependent on prevailing weather conditions. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine life, including Grey Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Snappers, Wrasses, Pufferfish, Groupers, Turtles, Angelfish, and Butterflyfish.
Tombant de Papeari
Tombant de Papeari features a reef drop-off adorned with gorgonians and soft corals. At a depth of 20 meters, divers can observe schools of chubs and paddletail snappers. In the deeper waters, mackerel scads may be seen, often pursued by bonito or tuna. Spadelfish (paraha peue) are also commonly found in this area. The coral diversity is significant, attracting researchers from CRIOBE who study the various species present at this site.
Toopua
Toopua is a dive site characterized by a steep drop-off where a variety of tropical fish congregate, including large anemones hosting clownfish. At the base of the wall, divers can find a sandy area frequented by leopard rays and eagle rays, which come to feed. The dive concludes in a vibrant coral garden, providing a diverse underwater landscape.
Toopua
Toopua is a dive site in a lagoon with a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet). Divers can expect to see diverse marine life including stingrays, leopard wrasses, clownfish, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, and blacktip reef sharks. At about 15 meters (50 feet), there is a sandy valley with eagle rays, leading to a large coral garden towards the end of the dive.
Tupai
Tupai is a remote dive site located at coordinates -16.302700, -151.803500, accessible from the shore. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of oceanic pelagic species, including grey reef sharks, black-and-white tip reef sharks, and occasionally hammerhead sharks and tuna. The site is notable for its proximity to a heart-shaped motu, providing a unique diving experience in Polynesia. The underwater environment is characterized by its rich marine life, making it a significant location for divers interested in pelagic fauna.
Tupitipiti
Tupitipiti is located southeast of Bora Bora and features a prominent drop-off with excellent visibility. At a depth of 20 meters, divers can explore a landscape characterized by caves, faults, and canyons. This area is frequented by various marine species, including nurse sharks and reef sharks, as well as gorgonians. As divers ascend along the vibrant coral wall, they may encounter species such as platax and Napoleon fish, along with schools of barracuda and jacks.