Dive and Sea Tahiti
Tahiti's west coast hides some of the most diverse and accessible diving in the entire Pacific. Freshwater springs that shimmer beneath the ocean, a seaplane you can swim inside, a pass permanently inhabited by leopard rays, a white-sand valley patrolled by up to six shark species — the best island dives in Tahiti are unlike anything else in French Polynesia.
At Dive and Sea Tahiti, we depart directly from the 3 Pontons in Punaauia and dive these sites every week. Every site listed here is accessible to Open Water certified divers. Here is our complete guide.
The most famous dive site in Tahiti — and the most technical due to its current. Vallée Blanche sits in the channel between Tahiti and Moorea, beneath the Faa'a Airport flight path. Named after the white sand strip running through it, the site was historically used by fishermen who discarded fish heads and offcuts here, attracting sharks in large numbers. Today, at around 20 metres (up to 40m for experienced divers), you can encounter up to six species of sharks: blacktip reef shark, whitetip reef shark, grey reef shark, lemon shark — and for the luckiest divers, the tiger shark. Large-eye jacks, remoras, barracuda, platax, and leopard rays complete the picture. An unforgettable drift dive best enjoyed with a good briefing from our team.
La Source gets its name from a freshwater spring emerging from the seabed at 8 metres depth. This halocline — the shimmering boundary where fresh and salt water meet — is visible to the naked eye and creates extraordinary lighting effects. The coral reef extends from the surface down to 10 metres, then descends to 20 or 40 metres. La Source is beloved above all for its exceptional density of green and hawksbill turtles that come to rest among the corals. Schools of fusiliers, paddle perch, whitetip reef sharks, and occasionally a nurse shark round out the marine life. Suitable for all Open Water certified levels.
Close to La Source, Les 3 Pitons features three volcanic pinnacles rising from 40 metres to peaks at 5 and 10 metres. Each pinnacle is accompanied by its own freshwater spring, creating the same magical halocline effect as La Source. The contrast between the deep blue ocean and the coral-covered spires is dramatic and incredibly photogenic. Marine life is rich and varied: turtles, schools of surgeonfish, clownfish, spotted pufferfish, and scorpionfish inhabit every crevice. A dive that rewards slow, close-up exploration at any Open Water level.
Also known as Governor's Pass, this is one of the most original dives in Tahiti. The dive begins inside the lagoon and a gentle current carries you naturally through the pass into the open ocean. The star of the show is a permanent school of leopard rays that inhabits this pass year-round — their effortless, graceful flight is one of the most beautiful sights in Tahitian waters. The route also passes over drop-offs, small arches, with turtles and whitetip reef sharks completing the picture. Best dived in calm sea conditions. Accessible to all Open Water certified divers.
The ideal first dive site in Tahiti. L'Aquarium is located inside the calm, sheltered Faa'a lagoon, with a maximum depth of just 13 metres. Three wrecks — a Cessna plane and two boats — rest on the sandy bottom and act as artificial reefs, sheltering a wonderfully diverse community of lagoon fish: clownfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, jacks, triggerfish, lionfish, stonefish, and the occasional leaf scorpionfish. Because of its protected lagoon position, this site stays calm and diveable even when ocean conditions are rough. Perfect for first dives and training.
Located in front of the airport in the Faa'a lagoon, Les 3 Épaves offers a genuinely unique experience: three exceptional wrecks in a single dive. The centrepiece is a Catalina PBY-5A seaplane that can be explored from inside — the cockpit and fuselage offer incredible photo opportunities. Nearby rests a 40-metre wooden schooner at 8–22 metres, and a third sunken vessel at 30 metres. The site is rich in parrotfish, blue-striped snappers, lionfish, stonefish, nudibranchs, and with luck, turtles and whitetip reef sharks. Accessible to all Open Water certified divers.
A dive that combines history and marine life. La Zélée was a French gunboat built in the late 19th century to defend French interests in the Pacific. During World War I, facing the German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in the Bay of Papeete, its crew deliberately scuttled it to prevent capture. Today, the 56-metre wreck rests at 5 to 20 metres near Papeete, entirely colonised by corals and sheltering a rich and diverse marine life. An accessible, historically fascinating dive open to all certified levels — where exploration meets a unique piece of Pacific history.
Everything you need to plan your island dives in Tahiti.
No — all the dive sites offered by Dive and Sea Tahiti are accessible to Open Water certified divers (or equivalent). The most technically demanding site is Vallée Blanche due to its current, but it remains accessible with a good briefing from our team. We adapt every dive to the level and experience of our guests.
All our dives depart from the 3 Pontons in Punaauia, on Tahiti's west coast. This location gives us quick, direct access to the best island dive sites without long transfers.
La Source is Tahiti's most reliable site for sea turtle encounters — both green and hawksbill turtles come here to rest among the corals on virtually every dive. Les 3 Pitons and the Plateau aux Tortues are also excellent for turtle sightings.
L'Aquarium in the Faa'a lagoon is perfect for first-time divers — calm, sheltered, maximum 13 metres, with three resident wrecks to explore. La Source is also ideal for newly certified Open Water divers looking for a rich, gentle reef dive.
