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Tahiti Dive Sites
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"THE CORAL GARDEN"
depth range : 3 - 25 m |
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The dive owes its name to the various corals as montipora, porite, pocillopora that cover the gentle slope. Ther are brightly colored clams and sea anemones with clown fish. You always see Moray Eels, sometimes a turtle and and often tunas and wahoo.
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"MEA SPLIT DROP OFF"
depth range : 3 - 30 m |
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An amazing vertically split where you will see black corals, sea anemones, numerous pelagic fish, and sometimes white tipped reef sharks.
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"The GORGONIA"
depth range : 3 - 40 m |
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The dive owes its name to a fantastic gorgonia corals covered roof. You will see a white tipped reef shark sleeping in a split.
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"The FARE MITI SPLIT"
depth range : 3 - 45 m
Vertically split where you can see humphead wrasse, pelagic fish, Moray Eels, white tipped reef shark.
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"THE SPRING"
depth range : 15 - 25m
The dive owes its name to a fresh water spring which rises in the sea at the top of a coral head.
For your first visit at least, choose a calm day as the emission is the more visible on the surface.
The spring rises 5-6 meters below the surface. It can easily be located because of the column of rippling water escaping from it. The slope of the peak facing the open sea drops to a depth of 15-16 meters. It is perforated with grottos, one of which, at a depth of at least 14 meters, often shelters a lagoon shark or during the night, a Napoleon.
On either side of the spring, a beautiful valley extends parallel to the coast. Both sides are worthy of always rich in fish : you will see shoals of surmullets, blue-lined sea perchs, and sea-pike barracudas. The large clumps of living porites which constellate the valley, shelter a dense population of red mullet, squirrel fish and soldier fish.
Underwater Fresh Water Springs: this location is characterized by an under water pinnacle some 100 yards off the out reef, and alongside of it at about 25' of depth, fresh water flows though the coral looking like gossamer veils, something like heat waves rising off the payment on a hot day. As a diver swims into the freshwater mass, his image is blurred almost rendering his form unrecognizable. This location has very diverse and interesting terrain and an abundance of sea life.
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"ST. ETIENNE DROP OFF"
depth range : 30 - 60 m
The site merits several dives. The edge of the dropp-off is punstuated by large formations of madrepores with contorted outlines. At night, cowries, spiny lobsters and squill-fish appear, although they are becoming more and more rare.
Experienced divers will be able to descend the succession of vertical walls which extend well beyond the permitted limits of the qualung. A sheer drop and an overhanging cliff await them between 30 and 60 meters. This site is ideal for " deep water " training. In open water there are dog-toothed tuna, jackfish and unicorn fish.
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"PAPA WHISKY"
depth range : 40 - 60 m
"Papa whisky" is the name given to the little artificial islet on the axis of the landing strip of Faaa airport.
The clear break that can be seen at the surface seems to be a cliff. It is in fact the edge of a vast amphitheater (70 meters long) created by the collapse of the underwater plateau. Inside, the effects of the current are much less noticeable.
From here, two exploratory trips are possible :
One to the southern end of the arena, the other one to the northern point. Both trips are for experienced divers only.
The southern side is a beautifull geographical fault covered with yellow gorgons.
The northern point is also rich in gorgons. There are groups of mauve anthias nearby. A marauding tuna sometimes comes to circle a short distance away from the divers before vanishing into the ble. Visibility is often excellent.
From 55 to 60 meters, the ocean slope becomes an abrupt cliff wall. The gorgons are larger and even more dense.
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"AQUARIUM"
depth range : 2 - 12 m
Certainly the best beginner's place of the world!
A ring of corals, ideal for your first dive. Fish feeding with hundreds of tropical colored fish coming on divers. Three wrecks lying on the sand : a Cessna (5m) 1- The Aquarium 10 to 45' of depth with particularly calm clear water and an amazing abundance of fish which feed right out the divers hand in such mass its often difficult to see your buddy just in front of you. An ideal beginner location and superb for photography and video
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"The HYDROPLANE & The SCHOONER"
6 - 7 m (20 m at the lowest point of the plane)
This dive enables you to explore both the wreck of a plane and an old schooner. The schooner is one of the last ones of the inter-island traffic of years gone by. The plane's wreck is lying on a sandy bed, resting on its right wing. It is possible to go inside without any risk, either through a door located on the left hand side of the fuselage (less than 15 meters) or through the front of the cockpit. At few fin strokes away, you will find the schooner. You cannot enter inside. Heavy pieces of metal threaten to collapse at any time.2- Wrecks: an inter island freighter and a Catalina PBY seaplane on the same dive. These are just the right stage of deterioration in that the interior of these wrecks can be visited with plenty of natural light and spaces for getting out in a hurry should that be necessary. The ribs and deck beams of the ship are particularly aesthetic having been eroded away by the sea to a point where they have become fantastic underwater sculptures. It is of course a thrill to swim though the submerged engine room with its equipment mostly intact and climb in to the cockpit of the seaplane and sit in the pilots seat.
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