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Discover Moorea's excellent scuba diving. Like many Polynesian islands, after snorkeling and swimming, scuba diving is one of the most popular and definitely one of the most exciting water activities to do in French Polynesia. TST makes choosing your favorite island activity easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out our "To Do" pages: WATERSPORTS, ISLAND FUN, RELAXATION, RECREATION & GAMES, or SHOPPING, EATING & SERVICES.
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 Or you might see a nice turtle... |
Many species of fish, magnificant corals, and sea crustaceans of a thousand colors will amaze you with their diversity and numbers.
(It is reported that there are nearly 500 different species of fish living around the various Tahitian Islands, and, although you won't see them all, you'll certainly be able to glimpse a good amount of them diving around Moorea!)
 Or a zillion purple fish... |
The scuba diving around Moorea, however, is not limited to diving the lagoon... the open waters of the deep sea are just outside, wherein the majority of the most popular of Moorea's dive sites are located.
Lots more interesting and amazing sea creatures await your discovery, including sea turtles, larger and ever more species of fishes such as barracuda, tuna, jackfish, red snapper, napoleon fish, surgeon fish, impressively sized moray eels, trigger fish, various rays, dolphins, numerous species of sharks such as the black tipped, grey, and lemon, among others, and the migrating humpback whales during the months of August through October!
The powerful and graceful Manta Rays, more common around the open waters of Bora Bora and the outerlying Tuamotus, are also seen in Moorea waters, but very rarely.
How is Moorea diving different than the other islands?
Each Island in French Polynesia has one or more particular scuba traits or special things that make it different from the rest... Bora Bora has the Mantas and wonderful driftdives. Manihi and Tikehau have the pristine lagoon and enormous schools of fish. Raiatea has the wrecks, deep lagoon, and octopus dives, etc, etc.
In Moorea's case, it's likely to be shark feeding, Moray eels, sea turtles, and the magnificent Humpback whales, when they're around.
Shark feeding
Shark feeding has become a rather well known scuba activity for all Polynesian Islands, and in the case of Moorea, has developed to an extreme over the years due to 2 particular divers having pioneered and mastered this rather impressive and seemingly scary underwater shark encounter.
 There's shark and ray feeding in the lagoon. |
Philippe Molle, (founder of the now non-existent M.U.S.T. Diving center) along with Bathy's Scuba Center founder, Bernard Begliomini, (previous manager of TOPdive Tahiti) began experimenting with shark feeding behavior back as early as 1985, and consequently passed the knowledge down to their other, well trained divemasters. From there, other divemasters caught on, and now it's a virtual diving mainstay among qualified Moorea divemasters.
Essentially, it involves taking a large fish carcass down to shark depths, and, after several sharks (well accustomed to this by now) gather round, cutting it up and hand feeding them. It's a controlled feeding frenzy, all being viewed by the thrilled scuba diver nearby. (No, you don't get to feed the sharks yourselves...)
It's arguably quite safe, due to the fact that its been done thousands of times over with nary an injury, and also due to the fairly predictable behavior of the resident sharks. It is, however, a major thrill to any diver, especially those that haven't had the chance to encounter good sized sharks underwater (average size is between 3-5 feet, and for Lemon sharks, 9-12 feet!). Of course, there's always a detailed briefing and question and answer class pre-viewing the entire adventure back at diving headquarters before you get to accompany the sharkfeeders and experience this wild adventure.
Other features
During the months of August thrue late October, the annually migrating humpback whales are also a feature of Moorea diving.
 It's even possible to see a humpback whale! |
The scuba operators enjoy the whales as they commonly see them in the open waters of the ocean and are also extremely respective of their space, knowingly treating them with professionalism and proper distance.
Moray eels, huge Napoleon fish, and big Trigger fish are also frequently encountered in and outside of the lagoon. (Dolphins also exist in Moorea waters, however it is extremely rare to encounter them.)
Any of these creatures, when encountered, such as a large, ancient, and wise sea turtle swimming freely, will leave a lasting impression on your life...
It's what diving is all about, and Moorea waits for you to experience her underwater magic!
The expert scuba outfitters
There are four major scuba diving businesses on Moorea as well as a few other "scuba centers" located at select hotels.
Here, we list them all for you, along with basic information on their credentials, experience, etc.
They are all top quality scuba outfitters that can take you places underwater you've never imagined, but as with all businesses listed on TST, we always recommend you contacting them direct with your questions and bookings.
Tahiti Sun Travel Recommends:
TOPdive- Moorea (PADI Dive Center # S-6409)
Based in Cooks Bay,
(w/ a second base inside the Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa)
B.P. 336, Maharepa 98728 - Moorea
Phone: (689) 56.17.32, Fax: (689) 56.10.81
Email & Reservations
Discover the fascinating world of the TOPdive: With 4 diving centers in French Polynesia: Moorea, Rangiroa, Tahiti, and Fakarava.
Moorea dive center is managed by a young, dynamic, and professional team of divemasters. Our specialties include exploring Moorea's fascinating shark world and getting a special Polynesian Shark Diving certification!
We are easy to find on Moorea: If you arrive by cruise ship, we're only a one mile walk from the dock...
If you're staying at a hotel, we provide FREE TRANSPORTATION to and from our dock to your hotel.
From the dock, we'll take our 30 foot, high performance scuba boats equipped with the most modern safety and diving equipment to the best dive spots with the most excellent conditions allowing for the best quality dives possible.
Nitrox, exploration, certification, introductory, night, lagoon, ocean dives? We can make all your dive dreams come true. We provide
all levels of training and scuba instruction and certify PADI, CMAS and NITROX.
Please see our website for all the details.
And the rest of the scuba operators...
Scubapiti |
Moorea Fun Dive |
Moorea Blue Diving Center |
Ia Ora Diving |
Bathys Scuba |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MOOREA DIVING:
Where is Moorea? |
Moorea is one of the Tahitian Windward Society Islands, located in the Southern Hemisphere about half way between Australia and South America. It is in the same time zone as Hawaii. The flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti is about 7 1/2 hours. Daily ferry transport and airplanes will take you from Papeete, the Capital of Tahiti, to Moorea. |
What's the best time of year for diving in Moorea? | Scuba diving is good all year round in French Polynesia. The best diving conditions are between April and November. |
When can I see humpback whales? | Moorea is visited by whales from July to early October. They come to mate and to care for their newborns. You may spot them jumping on your way to a diving site and possibly see them under water too. The experience is always magical! |
What are the local diving conditions? | Local visibility often reaches 130 feet. The average temperature of the ocean is 79 degrees F (28 C) in the winter season and 84 F (30 C) during the summer. There is no noticeable temperature variation between the surface and a depth of 166 feet (50 M). A light wetsuit, 1/8 inch (3 mm), or even a lycra suit is sufficient for year-round thermal protection. |
What types of diving will I find in Moorea? | There are three basic types of dives: lagoon dives, outside-the-reef dives, and pass dives. The Lagoon Dives within the lagoon are generally shallow with very clear water. These conditions make them ideal for scuba lessons or for brushing up on your diving skills. However, there are also some deep dive sites within the Moorea lagoon: canyons filed with rays, moray eels and many tropical fish. These deeper sites are for certified divers only. Outside the Reef, just outside Moorea's coral reef, the ocean floor drops off dramatically. Here the reef is alive with a variety of corals and colorful fish, including the larger predators: lemon sharks, grey sharks, black & white sharks, moray eels, Napoleon fish, jack fish, barracuda, tuna, turtles, and dolphins. The Pass dives are at the openings in the coral reef- those which connect the lagoon with the ocean. There are always a large number of fish in these areas, as the tidal flows provide abundant nutrients. |
How deep will the dives be? | Most of the dives are between 50 feet (15 m) and 70 feet (22 m). For experienced divers, there are deeper dives both within the lagoon and outside the reef. |
Do I need to have a lot of diving experience to dive in Moorea? | Most of the diving in Moorea is fairly easy in favorable conditions and does not require a lot of diving experience. Many people learn to scuba dive for the first time in Moorea, and it is a wonderful spot for newly certified divers to improve their skills. For divers who wish to obtain additional training, TOPdive of Moorea offers some of the finest courses in continued education and full instruction for PADI, CMAS, and FFESSM certifications. |
What certification is required? | Except for beginning divers, you must provide your diving certification card and your diving log. |
Will I need a dive buddy? | You will not need a dive buddy. On every dive, you will be accompanied by an experienced dive guide who is also an instructor. The guide knows the different local conditions and specific dive areas well and will contribute to a very safe and enjoyable dive holiday. This service is included at no extra charge. However, if you wish to dive with a particular buddy, that is always possible as well. |
Do I need to bring my own equipment? | No. All the Scuba centers of Moorea provide all the equipment you will need for a great diving experience. This includes BCD, regulator, octopus, pressure gauge, wetsuit, weights, mask, fins, and snorkel. Of course, you can always bring your own equipment. Most divers prefer to bring their own mask, fins, and snorkel. |
I haven't dived in several years. Can you provide an initiation dive to help me brush up on my diving skills? | Of course! We'll insist on it for safety reasons and also to make your dives more pleasurable. TOPdive has a great refresher course that will take you as far back to scuba school as you want to go! When you're ready, we'll take you to any number of great dives perfectly suited for this purpose. On your first dive you are likely to see just as many animals as any other spot on Moorea! Turtles, sharks, eels, huge fish, etc! TOPdive- M.U.S.T.'s dive masters pay very close attention when taking you out for the first time. They will ensure that your first dive is a safe and rewarding experience. |
What types of fish will I encounter? | Moorea is home to many types of fish, and TOPdive on Moorea island will strive to make sure that divers get to see as many of them as possible. You can expect to see varied species of sharks, such as black and white tip, grey, and large lemons, large moray eels and Napoleon fish, Sea turtles, and so many other species of fish you will lose count. Barracuda, triggerfish, jackfish, wahoo, snappers, tuna, etc. Occasionally, during the right seasons, divers are rewarded with a close look at humpback whales and sometimes even dolphins. |
What about sharks? | When you dive with TOPdive or Bathys, you're diving with shark specialists, so you are sure to see many species of sharks. Sharks are not as aggressive in French Polynesian waters as other parts of the world, so you will be quite safe. You will also get to see them feeding! Its an amazing and very safe experience that many divemasters perform daily for their divers. You will be able to take pictures and video at close range. |
If I have an accident, how will I receive help? | French Polynesia possesses one of the best sea search-and-rescue programs in the world. In case of an accident, there is an evacuation procedure, either by plane or helicopter, available around the clock. In Papeete, there is an ultra modern decompression chamber along with a team of doctors highly trained in hyperbaric medicine. It's only a 7 minute helicopter ride from Moorea. |
Does my travel insurance cover me while diving? | Most travel insurance policies do not cover scuba diving. You should inquire with your travel agent and include a special clause in your insurance contract prior to departure. It is possible to contract for insurance at TOPdive, Bathys, or some of the other scuba centers on Moorea, valid for your entire stay that covers any type of accident. Ask the individual outfitters for details. |
Is spear fishing allowed? |
French law prohibits spear fishing or collecting anything while wearing scuba tanks. |
(Sources: Philippe Molle, Anne & Michel Condesse, and Tahiti Sun Travel's notes)
Learn about Scuba Diving on the Other Islands of
An Internetwork of Travel & Tourism Guides
for the Main Islands of Tahiti Polynesia.
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