Diving in Rangiroa: your underwater adventure in French Polynesia
If you're wondering where the best diving site in French Polynesia is, you're bound to come across Rangiroa! Hop on a boat and enjoy the experience of a lifetime! A great trip awaits you.
Known to all scuba diving enthusiasts, this huge atoll of French Polynesia in the heart of the Pacific Ocean awaits you for an extraordinary adventure. With its vibrant coral reef and abundant marine life, Rangiroa offers an unforgettable underwater experience. It’s a diving Eldorado: a turquoise-blue paradise populated by a thousand wonderful creatures.
Rangiroa Lagoon, a Diver's Paradise
Rangiroa is the world's second-largest atoll. Its motu (islets) circle a vast lagoon that inspires scuba divers worldwide. The Islands of Tahiti are indeed home to some incredible lagoons, including that of Bora Bora, famous for its beauty and its unreal shades of blue. But Rangiroa remains the ultimate island for snorkeling and scuba diving. The biodiversity is simply outstanding: coral reefs, tropical fish, all kinds of sharks, turtles and rays live in Rangiroa's lagoon and channels.
Rangiroa is also a great place to swim with dolphins. Many species of cetacean are found in Polynesian waters, particularly in the Tuamotu Islands.
It's a vibrant mix of wildlife, unfolding before your very eyes as soon as you get in the water. There's something for everyone here. The various scuba diving centers offer dives and courses for all levels. Each of them ensure that safety standards are met while providing an unforgettable experience:
- Initiation and discovery dives that are perfect for beginners.
- Sea outings for experienced divers to enjoy the most beautiful diving spots Rangiroa's lagoon has to offer.
- And if you or your loved ones would like to enjoy the underwater world without diving too deep, there are plenty of snorkeling excursions available in Rangiroa.
Dive in Tiputa pass, a mythical diving spot
It's impossible to plan a scuba-diving holiday in The Islands of Tahiti without visiting the Tiputa pass. It's the most famous and best diving spot in French Polynesia.
Along with the Fakarava lagoon, this unmissable spot is one of the major hotspots of Polynesian biodiversity. Schools of jacks, barracudas and smaller fish offer a spectacular view. You may also come across gray sharks, sea turtles and maybe even a manta ray or a few dolphins!
The Rangiroa diving centers will take you to the sites accessible on the Tiputa pass by boat. The Rangiroa Shark Cave, for example, is one of the highlights of the Tiputa drift dive. Here, you can hide and observe gray reef sharks. Experienced divers wishing to encounter other sharks can proceed to the canyons, where you'll come across numerous gray sharks, and maybe even some large hammerheads.
Other dive sites named “l'angle” (The angle), "la traversée" (The crossing) and "l'éolienne" (The windmill) will delight experienced divers. Finally, the "Aquarium" site is ideal for beginners wishing to dive or snorkel among turtles, sharks and manta rays in good conditions.
Dive in Avatoru pass
Schools of jacks and white-tip sharks thrive in the Avatoru pass. Of course, rays, gray sharks and fish of all kinds also populate the waters of this exceptional diving site.
The Avatoru pass, shallower than Tiputa, is characterized by a strong current. The accessible incoming current allows you to enjoy a drift snorkeling session to discover the seabed during excursions offered by local service providers.
The “petite passe” is a well-known spot on Avatoru. Its strong current attracts manta rays, and its beautiful caves are often visited by sharks.
Less famous than the nearby channel of Tiputa, Avatoru remains a must-see if you're visiting Rangiroa and the Tuamotu Islands!
Scuba diving in Rangiroa, French Polynesia: our tips and advice
You're probably wondering when to dive in Rangiroa and what is the best time to visit The Islands of Tahiti ? Well, to enjoy the best diving conditions, Rangiroa and the Tuamotu Archipelago offer a very pleasant climate all year-round, with an average temperature of 82°F in the air and 80°F in the water. The weather is particularly mild between April and the end of October.
Choose your hotel according to your personal preferences and budget. Scuba diving is the islands' main activity, and there are numerous Rangiroa diving centers. They are all within easy reach of Rangiroa airport, near the Tiputa pass, the Bed & breakfasts and the hotels (Resort & Spa).
Contact your preferred Rangiroa diving center directly to book your diving trip. Morning and afternoon slots are available at your local dive center.
Whatever your diving level, always ask your instructor and the local professionals for safety advice on the area's specific features and currents, and to find out which marine species you're likely to come across along the way.
Finally, if you'd like to discover other exceptional sites in French Polynesia, we recommend you plan a few days in Fakarava, another must-see scuba diving destination, classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Air Tahiti Nui offers diving packages with flights + hotel included. Please visit our travel packages section for more information.