Dive Curated
ThierryBEUVE · Pixabay Content License · source

Society Islands, French Polynesia

Moorea

Tahiti's green, mountainous neighbour, with sharks and turtles a few minutes' boat ride outside the reef.

Moorea is the easy-going island next to Tahiti: jagged green peaks, two deep bays, a turquoise lagoon and a slower pace than Papeete across the water. It suits couples and families who want resort comfort without the price or the travel of the outer islands, and divers get reliable shark dives close to shore. Many trips combine a few days here with Tahiti or Bora Bora.

Beginner-friendlySee dive operators & prices ↓
Beginner-friendlySee dive operators & prices ↓

Can I dive here?

Experience

Beginner-friendly
Requirements
Open Water (or CMAS Niveau 1) for most sites; deeper slope and drift dives are better with Advanced certification.
Medical/safety access
Serious dive emergencies are handled on Tahiti, at the territory's main hospital (CHPF Taaone, Pirae), a short flight or boat ride away; ask your dive centre about current recompression arrangements. Dive boats carry oxygen.

Conditions

Currents
mostly mild, moderate at the passes
Depth range
5–40 m
Visibility
20–40 m
Water temp
25–29 °C

Moorea's diving is concentrated on the north and north-west coast, outside the reef and a short boat ride from the hotels: shark-rich slopes, canyons and coral gardens in clear, warm water. Most sites are gentle enough for newly certified divers, and dive centres run two-dive mornings with try dives and courses in the afternoon.

Season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Also good: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Diveable year-round in warm water, clearest in the drier May-Oct months. Humpback whales pass Moorea from about July or August to November; encounters are snorkel-only (diving with whales is not allowed in French Polynesia), and some shops switch to whale trips for the season.

Moorea dive prices: 2 shops compared

  • Known fees added to each price
  • Prices from each shop's own site or price list
  • Contact shops directly on WhatsApp
  • No booking fee
Prices in

Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.

  • Moorea Fun Dive

    Small north-coast Moorea centre running two-dive mornings with free equipment and English- and French-speaking guides.8 bookable offersFrom, with known feesXPF 7,500per dive · 2 Successive Dives (Morning)Fees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-10-26Check availability on WhatsApp

  • Nemo'z Diving

    Moorea dive centre near Temae with free nitrox, free Mares equipment and free island-wide pick-ups for two or more divers.5 bookable offersFrom, with known feesXPF 8,000per dive · 2-Tank Morning DiveFees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-10-26Check availability on WhatsApp

What will I see?

Sharks are the reason most divers come: blacktip and grey reef sharks are on almost every outer-reef dive, and lemon sharks gather on sandy patches and in the Opunohu canyons. Turtles, eagle rays, moray eels, giant triggerfish and schools of snappers and surgeonfish fill out the reef. Inside the lagoon, shallow sandbanks draw stingrays and blacktip sharks that snorkellers can see in knee-deep water.

Terrain

  • outer reef slope
  • canyons
  • coral gardens
  • lagoon
  • passes
Lemon and reef sharks
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Blacktip and grey reef sharks on the outer slope, lemon sharks in the canyons and on sandy patches.

Humpback whales
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Snorkel or boat encounters with licensed operators only; diving with whales is not permitted.

Turtles
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Green and hawksbill turtles on the north-coast reefs.

Stingrays in the lagoon
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Southern stingrays and blacktip sharks on the shallow lagoon sandbanks, a classic snorkel stop.

Top dive sites

Tiki Point

Intermediate

Depth10–30 m

On Moorea's north-western tip, a calm shark gathering of blacktip, grey reef and lemon sharks that tolerate divers well.

  • blacktip sharks
  • grey reef sharks
  • lemon sharks

Opunohu Canyons

Beginner-friendly

Depth9–21 m

Canyons, drop-offs, overhangs and small caves with blacktip and lemon sharks, turtles and schools of snappers and surgeonfish.

  • lemon sharks
  • turtles
  • canyons
  • caves

Taotoi

Beginner-friendly

Depth8–25 m

A scenic dive over an undulating coral garden with blacktip sharks, rainbow runners, giant triggerfish and moray eels.

  • coral garden
  • blacktip sharks
  • moray eels

Lemon Shark Valley

Intermediate

Depth15–30 m

A sandy valley on the outer slope where lemon sharks often gather in groups.

  • lemon sharks
  • sandy slope

Rose Garden

Advanced only

Depth30–45 m

A deep field of rose-shaped corals at around 40m, for experienced divers.

  • rose corals
  • deep dive

Plan your trip

Getting there

Fly into Tahiti (Faa'a International, PPT), then take a fast ferry from Papeete to Vaiare on Moorea (about 30-45 minutes, several departures a day) or a short connecting flight. The island is small; most dive centres are on the north coast and some offer hotel pick-ups.

Minimum stay
3-4 nights
Book ahead
1-2 weeks ahead; further ahead in July-August and whale season

Certification & medical

Shops teach and dive in both the French CMAS/FFESSM system (Niveau 1, 2, 3) and PADI. Open Water or Niveau 1 covers most guided dives. A medical certificate is commonly asked for courses and for divers over 60.

Infrastructure

Small villages strung along a single coast road, with supermarkets, pharmacies and ATMs around Maharepa, Paopao and Haapiti. A car, scooter or bike is the easiest way around.

Connectivity

Mobile data and WiFi work at most hotels and pensions; coverage is weaker in the valleys.

Health & safety

Diving is guided in small groups with oxygen on board. The nearest hospital for serious cases is on Tahiti, a short ferry or flight away.

Peak season

July-August and the whale season through November are the busiest months; book dives and whale trips ahead then.

Conditions and operator availability change. Always verify locally before booking.

Common questions about Moorea

Is Moorea suitable for beginner divers?

Moorea is rated "Beginner-friendly". Shops teach and dive in both the French CMAS/FFESSM system (Niveau 1, 2, 3) and PADI. Open Water or Niveau 1 covers most guided dives. A medical certificate is commonly asked for courses and for divers over 60.

When is the best time to dive Moorea?

The best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Diveable year-round in warm water, clearest in the drier May-Oct months. Humpback whales pass Moorea from about July or August to November; encounters are snorkel-only (diving with whales is not allowed in French Polynesia), and some shops switch to whale trips for the season.

What can you see diving in Moorea?

Divers come to Moorea for Lemon and reef sharks, Humpback whales, Turtles, Stingrays in the lagoon. Moorea's diving is concentrated on the north and north-west coast, outside the reef and a short boat ride from the hotels: shark-rich slopes, canyons and coral gardens in clear, warm water. Most sites are gentle enough for newly certified divers, and dive centres run two-dive mornings with try dives and courses in the afternoon.

How much does diving in Moorea cost?

Guided dives and trips range from XPF 8,400 to XPF 75,000, based on operator prices verified 2026-10-26. Confirm current prices with the operator.