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Tahiti Scuba Diving Guide
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South Pacific Dive Holidays
our rankings - select destination for more info
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Tahiti scuba diving offers an excellent variety with some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world and a wide range of large marine life, particularly rays and sharks. Drift diving through channels is particularly exciting. Visibility is excellent with 30 metres common the outside reefs and 20 metres in the shallow lagoons. And sea temperature are warm year round (26-29C). There are more than 30 certified scuba diving companies throughout the islands offering everything from beginner courses certified by both the French standard CMAS and by PADI to advance diving. Most instructors speak good English. There are several live-aboard scuba diving charters available for those with a real passion for exploration diving.
As a summary, Bora Bora is renowned for its manta rays, Moorea for its shark feeds and Raiatea for its wreck dives. The best corals and reef fi8sh are found in the Tuamotu Group with Rangiroa and Fakrava atolls famous for its exciting channel dives with sharks and other pelagics and Manihi and Tikehau reputed for their enormous schools of reef fish and soft corals.
Tahiti - the Main Island - Society Islands
Offers a good introduction to scuba diving with a bit of everything: wrecks, nudibrachs and leaf fish, and conveniently close to the western hotel chains. There are Gorgonian fans on the attractive Southern Peninsula, also walls from 3 to 60 metres. Experienced divers will enjoy the rich caves off Tahiti Iti in the east.
Moorea - Society Islands
Abundant shark population, sometimes in packs of 50 or more. Also Sting Rays, Napoleon Wrasse, Mooray Eels and Turtles. Oponohu Canyons off the north coast and Tiki Point off the West Coast are the best shark feed dives in Tahiti.
Bora Bora - Society Islands
Anau is renowned as the most prolific Manta Ray Sanctuary in the South Pacific, and whilst there's a good chance of seeing rays all over Tahiti, at Bora Bora you'll see hordes of them, particularly at Teavanui Pass. Its also great for sharks: lemon tips, black tips. Excellent also for snorkelling.
Tahaa & Raiatea - Society Islands
Little tourism in these islands so diving takes on more of an adventure. There's excellent diving off the Hawaiki Resort along the north east coast with the Norsby wreck, an intact 3-masted vessel from 1900 being a favourite with 23 recorded species of Nudibrachs, Drift dives through Miri Miri Pass offer soft corals and Eagle Rays.
Rangiroa Atoll - Tuamotu Group
The most famous shark diving destination in the South Pacific with over 10 species commonly sighted. There's 2 channels at the northern end of the atoll with fast flowing currents (good for experienced divers), lots of fish and the ocean plummets 1,200 metres so there's a good chance of seeing humpback whales between July and August.
Fakarava Atoll - Tuamotu Group
Very similar to Rangiroa (above) but less touristy. Garvae Pass in the north offers drifts in 3 to 4 knots with silver tips, grey's, hammerheads and the possible white tip encounter. Tumakohua Pass in the south is narrower and more concentrated.
Manihi Atoll - Tuamotu Group
Moderate channel drift dives, good for intermediate and beginners. Lots of rays and sharks.
Tikehau Atoll - Tuamotu Group
Exceptionally rich coral reefs with numerous and often vast schools of fish. Also has two passes with sharks, rays and turtles.
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