What to see
Diving in French Polynesia: what there is and when to go
Reefs, wrecks and dive or snorkelling spots: underwater places people travel to on purpose. This site lists 46 such places in French Polynesia, 13 of them with a Wikipedia article; the best known is Takapoto. The best time for this in French Polynesia is May to October, and it is also possible March to April and November. Each place has its own season, which is not the country's: a high mountain hut and a valley in the same country are not open in the same months.
In a nutshell
- What this is
- The places in French Polynesia people go to for diving, each with its own season.
- How many
- 46 on this page, 13 with a Wikipedia article; you get them all on your trip map.
- Best known
- Takapoto — island in French Polynesia.
- Best time
- May to October.
- Also possible
- March to April and November.
- Ways in
- PPT Papeete · BOB Motu Mute · RFP Uturoa · NHV Nuku Hiva
What counts as diving
Reefs, wrecks and dive or snorkelling spots: underwater places people travel to on purpose. Like the beach, with warm water; in the tropics, when it is not raining.
Each place is included because of how its source describes it, not because of what anyone says about it: that is why a castle that is now a museum appears under history and museums at the same time. Of these 46, 14 also count as beaches, 7 also count as nature and 1 also counts as history.
When to go
For diving in French Polynesia, the best time is May to October, and it is also possible March to April and November.
- JanBetter not12:56
- FebBetter not12:34
- MarPossible12:07
- AprPossible11:36
- MayBest time11:11
- JunBest time10:58
- JulBest time11:04
- AugBest time11:25
- SepBest time11:54
- OctBest time12:24
- NovPossible12:50
- DecBetter not13:02
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In December there are 13 h 02 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 58. Daylight hours are those at the average latitude of these places, on the 15th of each month.
Counting place by place, in May 46 of the 46 are at their best, and in January, 0.
When to visit French Polynesia in general, with its festivals and high seasons, is on its page.
The best known
Ranked by how many Wikipedia editions have an article on them, which is the closest thing to measuring fame without asking anyone.
- Takapoto — island in French Polynesia (23 Wikipedias)
- Reitoru — island in French Polynesia (18 Wikipedias)
- Ahuatoa — reef in France (1 Wikipedia)
- Atavahine — reef in France (1 Wikipedia)
- Oati — reef in France (1 Wikipedia)
- Poreho — reef in France (1 Wikipedia)
- Passe Teavapiti — sound in France (1 Wikipedia)
- Teipe — reef in France (1 Wikipedia)
What there is
Each one has its own page: what it is, where it lies, its altitude, its daylight hours and which months are worth it. Most of them are in Papeete (13) and Paea (3). Open whichever you like and have a look before you decide on the trip.
- TakapotoIsland in French Polynesia
- ReitoruIsland in French Polynesia
- AhuatoaReef in France
- AtavahineReef in France
- OatiReef in France
- PorehoReef in France
- Passe TeavapitiSound in France
- TeipeReef in France
- Toa MapaReef in FrancePapeete
- Toa NuiReef in France
- ToamoteaReef in France
- ToapuReef in France
- UahuparivaReef in France
- AquariumDive sitePapeete
- Bora Diving CenterDive site
- Epave CatalinaDive sitePapeete
- Faille d'ArueDive sitePapeete
- Faille St EtienneDive sitePapeete
- Grottes du TaharaDive sitePapeete
- IriruDive site
- L'AquariumDive site
- La sourceDive sitePaea
- La virguleDive sitePapeete
- La zeléeDive sitePapeete
And the other 22:
- Paea: Plateau aux tortues, Temaruata
- Papeete: Les Roses, Papa Whisky, Tombant St Etienne, Vallée aux Murènes, Vallée des requins
- Quai Paul Gauguin: Moorea Blue Diving
- Outside the towns: Le fer à cheval, Le Nordby, Le tombant Gorgognes, Le trou de la Pieuvre, Les rairas, Mahuaso Faao Reef, Mairie II, Pa’ipa’i, Passe de Céran - TAHAA, Rauto’Anui, Tao-tao, Te Ava Mo’a, Te Tuatiare, Terifa
More in French Polynesia
Everything else listed for French Polynesia, with how many places of each kind: Nature (76) · Mountains (51) · Beaches (15) · Temples (39).
And if you are looking at it the other way round —I know when I can go, tell me where— that is where to travel.
Frequently asked questions
When should I go to French Polynesia for diving?
May to October, and it is also possible March to April and November. Each place above also gives its own, which changes with altitude: at three thousand metres the season is not the same as in the valley. In December there are 13 h 02 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 58.
What is the best-known place for diving in French Polynesia?
Takapoto — island in French Polynesia, with an article in 23 Wikipedias. After it, Reitoru and Ahuatoa.
Where in French Polynesia are most of the places for diving?
Of the 46 on this site, they cluster most in Papeete (13) and Paea (3).
How do I add this to a trip?
Create a trip to French Polynesia and you get them all on the map, with their category. The ones you like go into a day of the plan with one tap, and the app lets you know when you pass nearby.
I don't know where to go yet
That is what Find a trip is for: tick what you feel like and the months you can travel, and it suggests destinations among the 105 countries in Kokai, with the places that fit those dates.
Keep reading
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
- DestinationsVisas, vaccines, plugs, currency, when to go and how to get around, country by country: 105 destinations and 855 things to sort before you leave.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from latitude. More in credits.