Island Tour: Scuba Diving in Tahaa (Society Islands)

TAHAA SCUBA DIVING

Within the Society Islands, it seems that Moorea gets all the attention for it's many sharks while Bora Bora is know for it's manta rays, so I will openly tell you the best kept secret within the Society Islands is Raiatea/Tahaa. There are over 20 dive sites and all within a 10-20-minute boat ride of the dive center. You have everything from drift dives through the many passes (there are 11) to drop offs, pinnacles for the advanced diver also caves and coral canyons. You will find beautiful black, yellow and purple coral walls. Raiatea even has a wonderful wreck dive -- it is a three-masted ship called the Nordby that sunk in 1900.

In terms of fish: you'll find silver and blacktip sharks, napoleon, moray eels, sea-pike, trevally, tuna, leopard rays, grouper, barracuda and dolphins. In addition there is a huge assortment of nudibranches. If you are able to visit July-November you'll have the chance of seeing humpback whales while July-September you have the possibility of seeing manta rays. Raiatea/Tahaa is an excellent dive destination and has something for every level of diver.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN TAHAA

Just a 40-minute flight from Tahiti and located between Huahine and Bora Bora, the twin islands of Raiatea and Tahaa share a common lagoon. A narrow 1.8 mile channel separates the two islands however the airport is on Raiatea so no matter which island you are visiting, you will typically stop on Raiatea first. Though their names are often invoked in the same breath, Raiatea and Tahaa are two distinctly different islands.

Tahaa is known as the "vanilla island." Nearly three-quarters of French Polynesia production comes from here. If you are able to visit when the vanilla is being harvested, you will find the air to be scented with the rich heady fragrance of these wonderful beans.

Though Tahaa is bereft of beaches on the main island, there are superb beaches on the motus surrounding the outlying reef. If you are lucky enough to stay at one of the hotels on the motus, you will find the lagoon to be one of the most beautiful around.

Home to a wide variety of reef fish and plant life, the lagoon offers excellent snorkeling attracting schools of eels, perches, triggerfish, red snappers, silver jacks, tunas and red runners, not to mention an assortment of sharks (all very friendly of course)!

Thanks to the area's relatively low population (4,470), the waters around Raiatea and Tahaa abound with fish. Fishing enthusiasts can take advantage of this fortuitous situation by chartering a fishing boat for a half or full day. Cast your line and catch jackfish, mahi mahi, marlin, sailfish and tuna.

Many locals swear that the best way to see Tahaa is by sailboat. Cruise around Raiatea/Tahaa, or set an open course for neighboring isles such as Bora Bora or Huahine. Rent a boat and sail to white-sand paradises like Motu Nao Nao, Opeha Point and Motu Tehutu.

The locals don't take their natural surroundings for granted. These islands are meant to be explored up-close and personal. Explore the Haamene and Hurepiti Bays -- these two narrow and fjord like passages cut deep into the Tahaa landscape are easily accessible by foot, both bays offer stunning panoramic vistas.

Cyclists will find the island traffic of Tahaa to be very light, creating a perfect environment for renting a bike and strolling around the island.

Sightseeing in this region of French Polynesia is almost like visiting two separate worlds. Soak up the small town ambiance and rugged terrain of Tahaa, and then take in the sites around relatively cosmopolitan Raiatea. It is this curious contrast that helps make sightseeing in Raiatea and Tahaa so much fun.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

For a complete list of accommodations, visit the Tahaa Accommodations page here.