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French Polynesia

About French Polynesia

French Polynesia is truly a scuba diving paradise. There are 118 islands and 6 archipelagos. More importantly, this 1,359sq mi land area has a dive site just right for any level of diver certification. The islands here were first inhabited by Polynesians around 200BC. Ferdinand Magellan stopped by in 1521 right before he died in Cebu, Philippines. James Cook stopped by the islands 3 times before being killed in Hawaii in 1779. Finally, Captain Blythe stopped by to collect breadfruit in 1789. He shortly thereafter lost command of his ship during the mutiny on the Bounty.  67 of the French Polynesia islands are uninhabited. 2/3 of the entire population live on the island of Tahiti. Moreover, here, extinct Mount Orohena rises 7,345ft above sea level. Enjoy our blog story: 110,000 Reasons to Go Liveaboard

Diving French Polynesia

With over 90 atolls to chooses from, there is an endless list of dive sites. There are swim throughs, walls, drop offs, lagoons, fringing coral reefs. There are also passes, motus (small islands), caves, canyons, and crevices too. So, Rangiroa is the 2nd largest atoll in the world. Bora bora has a spectacular lagoon. You also have a host of sites for doing drift dives and scuba diving on wrecks. Typically, you may see anglefish, turtles, grouper, trevally, barracuda, dolphins, and whale sharks. Fakarava is the place to see schooling sharks. Humpback whales appear in French Polynesia from July to November. So, June to October is manta season. Some of the drift dive passage sites have swift currents. However, other scuba diving sites have easy drift currents. Wave action is barely noticeable in certain sections of the lagoons. The visibility is generally between a 100-130ft. Above all, you may see hundreds of species of fish. So, there are over 20 species of sharks found here. The most common species include Black tips, white tips, silver tips, and lemons. Silky, nurse sharks, and even hammerheads can be sighted.

Accommodations, Attractions, Activities

There are major hotels and resorts spread throughout the French Polynesian islands. However, there are only a dozen scuba diving centers to choose from. To see some of the distant dive sites you will need to spend some time on a liveaboard vessel. Many divers do a resort and liveaboard adventure during the same visit. While hotels offer swimming pools, others prefer the bungalows that reside off shore and just feet above the ocean’s gentle waves. Snorkeling, swimming, and/or kayaking in the crystal-clear waters is an amazing experience. More importantly, this area is considered by many to be the one of the top ten places to surf in the world. Because of Paul Gauguin many artists come here to become inspired by the natural tropical beauty.
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Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa

Scuba diving in Tahiti? Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa is located on Motu Tevairoa. The resort is just a 10-minute boat ride from the airport in Bora Bora. So, the resort has 80 rooms ranging from over water suites/bungalows, Garden pool villas, and Otemonu view beach suites. Moreover, most units come with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, complimentary WiFi, minibar, satellite TV, CD & ...

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Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa

Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa is a scuba diving resort in Rangiroa in French Polynesia. They have 60 guest accommodations. So, they have Beach Bungalows to Villas with pools, family suites with pools, and Overwater Bungalows. Furthermore, each room has air conditioning, hair dryer, flat screen TV, a terrace with lounge chairs, and a mini-fridge. Enjoy our article on Dive into Polynesia with Humpb...

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Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora

Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora is a scuba diving resort in Tahiti. They have 74 accommodations. 13 Overwater Bungalows have a glass table where you can look down and view fish passing beneath you. They also have a private balcony. 13 Beach Bungalows are on the beach and literally feet away from the lagoon. There are 28 Garden View Rooms and 20 Ocean View Rooms where you can see the islands of Ra...

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Hotel Maitai Rangiroa

Hotel Maitai Rangiroa is a scuba diving resort in Rangiroa in French Polynesia. They have 34 guest accommodations. So, they have 18 Tapa Bungalows in the Gardens and 10 spacious Vini Bungalows with terraces. They also have 6 Lagoon Bungalows; a few steps away from the water's edge. Furthermore, each room has AC, hair dryer, TV, and a mini-bar. Most rooms have a ceiling fan and desk and chair as we...

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Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa is located in French Polynesia. They have 106 accommodations from Garden Bungalows to View Suites. The rooms have flat screen TVs, free WiFi, and daily refilled mini-bar. Some of the garden units have a private pool. Enjoy our blog article on Dive into Polynesia with Humpback Whales. Hilton Moorea Diving TopDive is the onsite scuba diving center. They have s...

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InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa

InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa is a scuba diving resort located in French Polynesia; a short flight and car ride or boat ride from Papeete, Tahiti. The resort has 142 accommodations. The rooms range from Lanai rooms to Garden Bungalows with private plunge pools. They also have Junior Suite Over Water Bungalows with a view of the lagoon and horizon. Overwater Bungalows also have a private...

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Manava Beach Resort & Spa

Manava Beach Resort & Spa is a scuba diving resort on the main island of Moorea in French Polynesia. So, this resort was formerly known as Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa. Moreover, it was the original resort in Mo’orea under the name of Bali Hai in 1961. It has gone through many renovations including the building of the largest infinity pool on the island. Manava Beach Resort now boasts 90 ac...

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Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa - French PolynesiaHotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa - French PolynesiaHotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora - French PolynesiaHotel Maitai Rangiroa - French PolynesiaHilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa - French PolynesiaInterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa - French PolynesiaManava Beach Resort & Spa - French Polynesia

Climate:  French Polynesia has a tropical climate. November to April is warm and rainy, while May to October is cooler and drier. Average air temperature 23 – 26°C / 73 – 79°F

Water Temperature: 26 – 29°C / 79 – 83°F

Time: UTC -10:00 (TAHT)

Language: French and Tahitian. English is spoken in major establishments

Currency: Pacific CFP franc. U.S. dollar and European Euro notes are widely accepted in major establishments 

Electricity: 110 / 220 Volts. U.S. Standard Plugs

Marriage Requirements: Please contact the local tourism board for instructions and requirements.

Airport(s): Tahiti International Airport (PPT)

Hyperbaric Chambers: Hospital Jean Prince

 

Even migrating humpback whales can’t resist the alure of Tahiti and Her Islands, officially known as French Polynesia. Walls, wrecks and and a unique underwater world with leopard rays, madrepores and underwater springs await you. Sprinkled over four million square kilometers (one and a half million sq. miles) of ocean in the eastern South Pacific, the total land area of these 118 islands and atolls adds up to only 4,000 sq. km. ( 1,544 sq. miles), and consists of five archipelagoes: the Society Islands, Austral Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu atolls and the Mangareva Islands. Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is located on Tahiti, the largest island, at 17 degrees 32 min. S. Latitude and 149 degrees 34 min. W. Longitude; 6,520 km (4,050 miles) from California, 5,390 km ( 3,350 miles) from Australia, 9,500 km ( 5,900 miles) from Japan, 8,000 km ( 4,900 miles) from South America and 17,700 km ( 11,000 miles) from Europe.

Dive into Polynesia with Humpback Whales

Have you gone diving in French Polynesia yet? No? It's DEFINITELY a bucket-list-worthy spot. This little piece of paradise becomes a hot ticket item between the end of July - October and there's a BIG reason behind it. Why? Humpback whales. These majestic creatures inhabit all the world's oceans but at the end of autumn they trade in their cold feeding grounds for warm tropical waters an...

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