57 sites listed
Dive Sites in Tahiti
Tahiti, a jewel of the South Pacific, is renowned for its breathtaking dive sites, offering unforgettable underwater adventures for divers of all levels. From vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life to dramatic drop-offs and thrilling drift dives, Tahiti's dive sites provide a gateway to an aquatic paradise.
Whether you’re exploring the bustling waters near Papeete or the tranquil depths around Tahiti Iti, these dive sites deliver unparalleled underwater beauty. Dive centers across the island offer expert guidance and top-tier equipment, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all.
Tahiti’s dive sites are a testament to the island’s natural splendor, promising memories that will last a lifetime.
A to Z
Every Tahiti dive site in the directory
Each site shows its depth range and the experience it suits. Open a site for its full dive log.
- Aquarium de Tahiti
Shallow site with a vibrant coral garden, sunken ships, and planes. Ideal for beginners.
ShallowBeginners - Arue Cave
Features a coral plateau, vertical walls, and an underwater cave. A technical dive site requiring advanced certification.
30 metersAdvanced - Arutua Pass
Vibrant coral gardens with schooling fish, rays, and dolphins drawn by currents.
ModerateIntermediate - Cave of the Sharks
Deep, dark caves with various shark species. Recommended for experienced divers due to depth and strong currents.
DeepAdvanced - Faaroa River
A unique freshwater dive site, mixing saltwater and freshwater, creating an interesting environment for fish species.
ShallowIntermediate - Faa’a Lagoon
Protected lagoon with calm waters and a diverse selection of marine life, including clownfish and sea turtles.
ShallowBeginner - Faa’a Lagoon Drop-Off
Steep wall dive, with sightings of moray eels, reef sharks, and occasional pelagic visitors.
DeepIntermediate - Ha'apiti
Crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral gardens, famous for manta rays. Great for photography.
ShallowIntermediate - Hiti Moana
Coral gardens and marine life, with clear waters and vibrant underwater landscapes.
ShallowBeginner - La Roche de la Pêche
Deep dive site with pelagic fish like tuna and barracuda, and reef sharks. Suitable for advanced divers.
DeepAdvanced - La Source
Features vibrant coral reefs, hawksbill and green sea turtles, clownfish, and reef fish. Freshwater springs create a unique blurry visual effect.
ShallowAll levels - La Vallée Blanche
Known for multiple shark species (blacktip, whitetip, lemon, gray, tiger), schools of milkfish, and diverse marine life. Offers both drift dives and stationary observation.
15–40 metersLevel All levels - Le Dent
Offers coral gardens, vertical coral walls, and species like butterflyfish and trumpetfish.
ModerateAll levels - Mahina Bay
Diverse underwater habitats with sandy flats and coral bommies. Ideal for macro photography.
ShallowBeginner - Maraa Caves
Dark, mysterious caves with moray eels, parrotfish, and vibrant coral species. Ideal for adventurous divers.
ModerateIntermediate - Moorea Proximity Dives
Includes sites like Opunohu Canyons and Tiki Point, known for shark encounters and coral landscapes.
VariedIntermediate - Nuuroa Canyon
Deep canyons and overhangs, with schools of jacks and trevallies, and reef sharks patrolling the area.
DeepAdvanced - Orohiti Reef
Shallow coral gardens with smaller fish species, ideal for macro photography and intimate diving experiences.
ShallowBeginner - Outer Reef Walls
Pristine conditions with coral life and pelagic species like tuna and barracudas. Ideal for advanced divers.
DeepAdvanced - Papa Whisky
An amphitheater-shaped site with dramatic rock formations, vibrant corals, and marine life like tuna and reef sharks.
Up to 50 metersAdvanced - Papeete Pass
Popular for spotting large pelagic species like tuna, barracudas, and manta rays.
VariesIntermediate - Papenoo Canyon
Dramatic canyon walls and thriving coral reefs, ideal for experienced divers interested in geological formations.
DeepAdvanced - Passe de Taapuna
Known for drift diving through a reef pass, with sightings of rays, reef sharks, and barracudas.
VariesIntermediate - Pointe de l’Opunohu
Coral reef with schools of tropical fish and rays. Ideal for beginner divers and snorkelers.
ShallowBeginner - Pointe des Pecheurs
Showcases beautiful coral reefs and a variety of reef fish species. A favorite for underwater photographers.
ModerateAll levels - Pointe Mataiea
Known for impressive coral walls, pinnacles, caves, and marine life like reef sharks and turtles.
VariesIntermediate - Pointe Vénus
Historical site with a variety of marine species, ideal for both beginner and intermediate divers.
ShallowBeginner-Intermediate - Punaauia Coral Gardens
Shallow coral reefs with colorful reef fish, rays, and occasional sea turtles. Ideal for snorkelers and beginner divers.
ShallowBeginners - Punaauia Lagoon
Shallow lagoon with various reef species, ideal for beginners and underwater photographers.
ShallowBeginner - Roche Anglaise
Deep dive site with volcanic rock formations and pelagic species like sharks, tuna, and schools of fish.
DeepAdvanced - Taharaa
Located near Arue, featuring coral walls teeming with reef fish, anemones, and crustaceans.
ModerateAll levels - Tahiti Iti Reefs
Known for pristine coral formations, drop-offs, and excellent visibility. These less frequented reefs offer a serene dive experience.
VariesAll levels - Tautira Bay
Calm bay with various coral structures, perfect for macro diving enthusiasts seeking smaller marine species.
ShallowBeginner - Te Ava Iti
Strong currents, with large marine life like barracuda, jackfish, and reef sharks. Best for experienced divers.
DeepAdvanced - Te Ava Mo’a
Steep underwater slopes, attracting larger pelagic fish like barracudas and jacks, and occasional sharks.
ModerateAdvanced - Te Maru Reef
Renowned for untouched coral formations and clear waters on Tahiti Iti.
Shallow to moderateAll levels - Te Pari Point
Challenging site with powerful currents, offering dramatic underwater cliffs, pelagic encounters, and coral structures.
DeepAdvanced - Teahupo'o Reefs
Offers excellent visibility and unspoiled coral formations near Tahiti Iti.
ModerateIntermediate - The Arch (L’Arche)
Underwater archway encrusted with corals and sponges. Home to schools of snapper, barracudas, and hammerhead sharks.
DeepAdvanced - The Cargo Ship Wrecks
Located near Marina Taina in Punaauia, featuring abundant marine life like moray eels and lionfish.
ModerateAdvanced - The Cathedral
Underwater rock formations and swim-throughs resembling a cathedral. Home to reef fish and occasional groupers.
ModerateIntermediate - The Caves of Tahiti
Submerged caves with moray eels, crabs, and reef fish. Best suited for experienced divers.
ModerateAdvanced - The Drop-Off at the Blue Lagoon
Pristine location with deepwater marine life like sharks, large schools of fish, and rays.
DeepIntermediate - The Green Lagoon
Rich biodiversity and clear waters, ideal for both novice and experienced divers.
ShallowBeginner-Intermediate - The Japanese Garden
Colorful coral gardens with small reef fish and nudibranchs, resembling a zen garden.
ModerateAll levels - The Lost Caves (Les Cavernes Perdues)
Underwater caves with reef fish, moray eels, and occasional sharks. A thrilling dive experience.
ModerateIntermediate - The Marado
Sheer underwater walls and diverse marine life, including blacktip reef sharks and wrasse.
Up to 35 metersIntermediate to advanced - The Napoleon Spot
Famous for sightings of Napoleon wrasse, a large charismatic marine species.
ModerateIntermediate - The Plane Wrecks
Submerged WWII aircraft with marine life making the structures their home. Great for wreck diving enthusiasts.
VariedIntermediate - The Shark Pit
Frequented by shark species such as blacktip and gray reef sharks, providing a thrilling dive experience.
ModerateAdvanced - The Three Wrecks
A shallow site with three wrecks, abundant marine life, and excellent for underwater photography.
ShallowAll levels - Tomb of the Sea Gods
Beautiful coral gardens and underwater rock formations, with large schools of tropical fish and rays.
ModerateIntermediate - To’ata Reef
Urban dive site near Papeete with octopuses, lobsters, and reef fish.
ShallowAll levels - Tupai Lagoon
Known for calm waters, stingrays, and reef fish, making it a tranquil spot for beginners and snorkelers.
ShallowBeginners - Tupai Pass
Accessible from Tahiti, offering stunning coral formations and encounters with rays and turtles.
ModerateIntermediate - Vaia'au Reef
Shallow reef with abundant coral formations and a variety of marine life, perfect for underwater photography and snorkeling.
ShallowBeginner - Vaiava Reef
Shallow coral gardens near Vaiava Beach, ideal for beginner divers and snorkelers.
ShallowBeginners
How to read the dive sites in this directory
Every dive site in Tahiti on this page carries two labels. The depth range tells you roughly how deep the interesting part of the dive sits: shallow sites stay in the bright, warm water near the surface, moderate sites sit in the middle range most certified divers are comfortable with, and deep sites go past the limits of an entry-level certification. Some sites are marked as varied because the reef slopes away and each diver can choose how deep to go.
The experience label tells you who the site suits. Sites marked for all levels or for beginners are usually calm, protected and easy to navigate, which makes them good for a first ocean dive, a refresher or a try-dive with an instructor. Intermediate sites tend to add some current, more depth or a longer swim. Advanced sites are where the passes, strong drift dives, deep walls and overhead environments such as caves sit, and they call for solid buoyancy, air management and the right training.
These labels are a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change with the tide, the swell and the season, so always ask the dive shop running the trip how the site is behaving that day, and dive within your training.
The main kinds of diving around Tahiti
Lagoon and coral garden dives
Tahiti and its neighbouring islands are ringed by a fringing reef that encloses calm, shallow lagoons. Inside the lagoon you will find coral gardens, sandy patches and coral heads full of reef fish, along with rays and turtles. These are relaxed dives with little current, long bottom times and plenty of light, and they are some of the best sites for new divers and photographers.
Outer reef walls and drop-offs
Outside the reef the sea floor falls away quickly into the deep blue of the Pacific. The outer reef walls and drop-offs are where you are more likely to meet larger animals cruising along the edge, and where visibility is often at its best. Because the bottom can be far below you, good buoyancy control matters here more than anywhere else.
Passes and drift dives
A pass is a channel through the reef where the lagoon empties into the ocean and refills with the tide. The moving water carries nutrients and attracts sharks, barracuda, eagle rays and big schools of fish, which is why the passes of French Polynesia have such a strong reputation. Pass dives are usually timed with the incoming tide and done as drift dives, with the boat following the group. They are fast and exciting, and many are rated for experienced divers.
Caves, canyons and wrecks
Tahiti’s volcanic coastline also offers caves, swim-throughs, arches and canyons, as well as a few wrecks, including sunken planes and ships. Wrecks make good homes for fish and often sit at moderate depth. Caves and any dive that takes you under a ceiling are overhead environments: only enter them with a guide who knows the site and with the training they require.
Planning your dives
Most dives around Tahiti are run as morning and afternoon boat trips from dive centers on the west coast, in the marinas near Papeete and around Punaauia, and on Tahiti Iti. Booking through a local dive shop means a guide who knows the site, the tide timing and the safest entry and exit points. Browse our directory of dive shops in Tahiti to find an operator near where you are staying, and read how to choose the right dive operator in Tahiti before you book.
Bring your certification card and logbook, and check whether your dive insurance covers the depths you plan to reach. The water stays warm all year, so a thin wetsuit is usually enough: our guide on whether you need a wetsuit in Tahiti covers the details, and our gear page lists what to pack. For the season, see Tahiti weather by month.
Leave enough time between your last dive and your flight home. Most diving agencies recommend waiting at least 18 hours after repeated dives before flying, and longer after deep or decompression dives.
Diving responsibly in Tahiti
French Polynesia’s reefs are a big part of what makes the diving here special. Keep fins and hands off the coral, never feed or chase marine life, and give turtles, rays and sharks room to move. A reef-friendly sunscreen and a good buoyancy check at the start of every dive go a long way. If you are new to an area, a guided dive is the best way to see the most while disturbing the least.
Ready to start? Pick a site from the list above, then read what type of diving to expect in Tahiti and our guide to cave diving in Tahiti, or browse every guide on the Tahiti scuba diving blog.