You'll see so many fish in the Tuamotus it will amaze you...

"One of the most spectacular diving destinations imaginable"...

is what the Tuamotu Islands are well known worldwide to be in diving circles...

This page is your SCUBA DIVING guide to the Tuamotu Islands!

TST makes choosing your favorite island activity easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out our "To Do" pages: WATERSPORTS.

Wan't more? Be sure and explore our "WHAT TO SEE" section for even more sightseeing and exploring ideas, touring, island attractions, and other interesting things to see and do!

"You never know what you might encounter in the Tuamotus"...

is what one top divemaster familiar with all the Polynesian archipelagos noted -

Deep ocean waters = LARGE fish

"Because they are so remote and surrounded by extremely deep ocean waters, the scuba diving here is always spectacular and can never be predicted..."

Indeed, all the Tuamotu atolls are surrounded by steep dropoffs and cliffs overlooking vast expanses of remote and tropical south pacific ocean waters.

What IS predictable, however, is that the spectacular world class diving in these unspoiled waters makes the Tuamotu islands an exotic and worthy destination for the most demanding scuba lovers.

This follows the fact that after snorkeling and swimming, scubadiving is the most popular and exciting water activity for all the Polynesian Islands, and, in the case of the remote Tuamotu island archipelago, it could easily be said that scuba diving is the MAIN attraction...

Located over 200 miles north of French Polynesia's Society Islands, the Tuamotu island chain are actually not technically "islands", but atolls. Numbering 78, the Tuamotu chain is the largest chain of atolls in the world. Geologically speaking, polynesian atolls are the tops of ancient collapsed volcanoes, now consisting of various sized motus (or small islands) surrounded by magnificent rings of coral built up over the centuries.

Countless species of coral are seen in the Tuamotu waters..

At the center of every atoll is a large, relatively calm lagoon fed by just a few passes from the open ocean. Most of the diving action occurs in or near these passes, as these are the spots with an almost continuous waterflow resulting from 2 daily tides rushing in and out of the lagoons.

These tides are affected by various factors including not only the moon and gravitational pulls of the earth but also the weather and swells of the open ocean just outside the coral fringes. Typical depths within the lagoons average around 20-30 meters, but can be as deep as 100 meters in some places.

In terms of diving, all this means deep and clean ocean waters outside and large quantities of fish of inumerable species in the lagoons. As for visibility, the open ocean is best with clear and clean waters giving superb visibility of hundreds of feet all day long.

Within the lagoons, the situation is completely different and constantly changing due to daily plankton buildup and tidal changes. In fact, it can be next to zero in certain places at certain times, with the passes being the only reliable places for non-local divers.

How is Tuamotu Island diving different than other islands?

Magnificent mantas are here!

Each Island group in French Polynesia has one or more particular scuba traits or special things that make it different from the rest... Moorea has the shark feeding, humpback whales and turtles... Bora bora has the fantastic lagoon drift dives and Manta Rays. Raiatea has the wrecks, deep lagoon, and octopus dives, etc, etc.

In the case of the Tuamotu Islands, not only is the entire chain of atolls the perfect combination of many interesting diving features, but each atoll also has additional attributes all to themselves!

Overall, probably the most notable shared feature of the Tuamotus is the sheer multitude of a very diverse array of species of fish. It is here that one will encounter some of the largest schools of fish anywhere on the planet!

All the usual polynesian fish suspects are here in great numbers including black tipped, lemon, nurse, and grey reef sharks, barracuda, tuna, jackfish, red snapper, napoleon fish, surgeon fish, huge moray eels, various rays, and several different species of sea turtles.

Of course lets not forget about the thousands of brightly colored smaller fishes that will constantly dazzle your eyeballs. In addition to these animals, dolphins, whalesharks and the ever impressive and majestic Manta Rays are also seen on a regular basis.

Rangiroa's dolphins & the magnificent mantas

Perfect natural conditions create a wondrous habitat off the coast of Rangiroa for one of man's favorite marine animals, the dolphin. For reasons unknown, the dolphins are seldom if ever seen on any of the other atolls except Rangiroa. Any time you see these dolphins, it leaves a lasting impression on your life...

Making friends with Dolphins...

Another feature of the Tuamotus is the ever popular and magificent Manta Ray... The largest of the world's rays, Manta Rays are plankton eaters, and thus regularly reside in the waters of the lagoons, as well as outside in the open sea. Of course, these sightings are always thrilling for divers!

Note: The scuba operators who have been diving the Tuamotu island waters for years know the habits and schedules of these impressive and intelligent marine creatures and have become quite skilled at showing divers the best spots for viewing them. They are always respectful of their habits and space, and will make sure that you do the same.

No touching or chasing... but pictures and closeup encounters are common.

More features & notes

Snapper heaven...

In addition to the daily, year round spectacular scuba, the Tuamotus also feature some seasonal highlights. During the months of May thrue July, unusual numbers of marble groupers and snappers gather to feed and, (assumably), breed, in the waters off Manihi.

No where else in the world is this phenomena seen, and, according the to the divers who have experienced it, a scuba experience they will never forget.

Lastly, an interesting note about WRECK DIVING is the Tuamotus lack of them... One would figure that these atolls would be littered over the years by many a craft attempting to navigate among them seeking shelter from the common Pacific storms.

The answer to the mystery is simple after thinking about it: The sheer dropoffs into depths of more than one mile simply makes any wreck far too deep to ever see. The passes are too shallow for large craft to enter the lagoons, so what wrecks are there are long since submerged into the surrounding abyss. Interesting...

The Scuba outfitters

There are several scuba diving businesses located on the various Tuamotu Islands of French Polynesia. Some are independant Scuba Centers, while others work in conjunction with a particular hotel or pension.

Multi-level dives are available for all skill levels, fulfilling most scuba divers wildest expectations. Although all the scuba businesses listed on this page are qualified and proven professionals, TST always recommends you contact them direct with your questions and bookings.

Here, we divide and list them all for you according to their respective island locations along with basic information on their credentials, experience, etc.

Manihi

For all its scuba diving pleasures and treasures, Manihi has only one diving center. It's located at the famous Manihi Pearl Beach Resort.

Manihi Blue Nui

Based out of the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort
Turipaoa 98771 - Manihi
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 96.42.17
E-MAIL & Reservations

Let our full service scubadiving center show you the underwater magic and crystal clear blue waters of Manihi!

CMAS ** International monitor. BEES 1- Instructor PADI OWSI. Examinations given: All CMAS, FFESSM and PADI certificates.

The award winning Blue Nui Dive Centers comprises 4 scuba centers in French Polynesia: One on Bora bora, one on the Tuamotu island atoll of Tikehau, this one on Manihi, and another on Tahaa.

The staff is professional, english speaking, and safety minded.

Please see our website for all the details.

Rangiroa

Rangiroa has the most diving centers in the Tuamotus due to the fact that it has the largest number of tourists. There are currently 5 scuba diving businesses thriving on the atoll...

Tahiti Sun Travel Recommends:

TOPdive- Rangiroa

Based at the Hotel Kia Ora
B.P. 181, Avatoru 98775 - Rangiroa
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 96.05.60, Mobile- (689) 72.39.55
E-MAIL & Reservations

Come join the exceptional atmosphere of Tuamotu scuba under the guidance of a dynamic and professional team of divemasters. Our scuba boats are large and comfortable and equipped with the most modern safety and diving equipment. Whatever your scuba wish is, we can provide it!

First dives, lagoon and ocean dives, all levels of training and scuba instruction available with top level certified experts.

Please see our website for all the details.

And the rest of the scuba operators on Rangiroa...

Tikehau

Tikehau atoll is famous for having the most fish of any lagoon in all of French Polynesia...  and that's a fact... or, to put it another way: "the diving here is spectacular." It has 2 top quality diving centers.

Tahiti Sun Travel Recommends:

Tikehau Blue Nui

Located at the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort Hotel
B.P.20, Tuherahera 98778, Tikehau
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 96.22.40
E-MAIL & Reservations

TSTN EZ Print Internet Coupon Participant. Print the Coupon Now to save 10% off your dives.

Full service scubadiving cente on Tikehau wants to show you the underwater magic and crystal clear blue waters of this amazing atoll!

CMAS ** International monitor. BEES 1- Instructor PADI OWSI. Examinations given:All CMAS, FFESSM and PADI certificates.

The award winning Blue Nui Dive Centers comprise 4 scuba centers in French Polynesia: One on Bora bora, one on the Tuamotu island atoll of Manihi, this one on Tikehau, and another on Tahaa.

The staff is professional, english speaking, and safety minded.

Please see our website for all the details.

And the other scuba center on Tikehau:

Fakarava

Scuba diving on Fakarava, the second largest atoll in Polynesia, is an important activity in the Tuamotus. Currently, there are 4 quality diving centers servicing the public.

Tahiti Sun Travel Recommends:

TOPdive- Fakarava

1 center based at the Hotel White Sand Beach Resort & another at Pension Raimiti
B.P. 174, Rotoava 98763 - Fakarava
Telephone/ Fax- (689) 98.43.76, Mobile- (689) 29.22.32
E-MAIL & Reservations

Come join the exceptional atmosphere under the guidance of a dynamic and professional team of divemasters. All our scuba boats are 23- 30 feet and equipped with the most modern safety and diving equipment. Whatever your scuba wish is, we can provide it!

First dives, lagoon and ocean dives, all levels of training and scuba instruction available with top level certified experts.

Please see our website for all the details.

And a list of the rest of the scuba operators on Fakarava...

Check out the Scuba Diving on the Other Islands of

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