After snorkeling and swimming, scubadiving is the most popular and definately one of the most exciting water activities for all the various islands comprising Tahiti Polynesia.

Bora Bora’s famous multicolored lagoon is world famous for its scuba diving opportunities. It’s wonderful variety of marine life is dazzling. With only one navigable pass, the island of Bora Bora is completely surrounded by a calm, warm, relatively shallow and crystal clear lagoon, offering diving opportunities of a world class nature.

Many species of fishes, magnificant corals, and sea crustaceans of a thousand colors will amaze you with their diversity and numbers within the lagoon. (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 Bora Bora!)

The scuba diving around Bora Bora, however, is not limited to diving the lagoon… the open waters of the deep sea are just outside, wherein there are also a great many dive sites to be enjoyed.

In the deeper waters of the open ocean, 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, various rays, dolphins, various 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, among the world’s largest, are regularly seen in Bora Bora’s lagoon as well as the open waters outside of it’s lagoon.

HOW IS BORA BORA 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… Moorea has the shark feeding and the turtles. Manihi and Tikehau have the pristine lagoon and magical corals. Raiatea has the wrecks, deep lagoon, and octopus dives, etc, etc.

In Bora Bora’s case, it’s likely to be the ever popular Manta Ray dives, and shark, turtle, dolphin, and whale watching when they’re around.

Bora Bora’s Rays

Perfect natural conditions create plentiful and regular growth of marine plankton in parts of Bora Bora’s famous lagoon. The largest of the world’s rays, the Manta Rays, are plankton eaters, and thus regularly reside in the waters of the lagoon, as well as outside in the open sea.

Various other ray species such as leopard, bat, and eagle, and stingrays, are also common in BoraBora waters. Although not as huge as Manta Rays, there is nothing quite like seeing a “school” of batrays silently glide by you… Any time you see these rays, it leaves a lasting impression on your life… That’s what diving is all about, and Bora Bora waits for you to experience her underwater magic!

The scuba operators who have been diving the Bora Bora waters for years know the habits and schedules of all these impressive marine creatures and have become quite killed at showing divers the best spots for viewing. 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.

Other Features

During the months of August thrue late October, the annually migrating humpback whales are also a feature of Bora Bora diving.

Although not as common as on Moorea, the Bora-bora scuba operators enjoy the whales when they see them in the open waters of the ocean and are extremely respective of their space, knowingly treating them with professionalism and proper distance. Dolphins and turtles are also encountered outside of the lagoon. Sometimes, divers are treated to seeing numerous dolphins at one time!

THE SCUBA OUTFITTERS WHO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE

There are 5 major scuba diving businesses on Bora Bora, as well as a few other “scuba centers” located at select hotels and elsewhere on the island. Here, we list them all for you, along with basic information on their credentials, experience, etc. Multi-level dives are available for all skill levels, fulfilling most scuba divers wildest expectations.

BORA DIVING CENTER (PADI DIVE CENTER # 6346)
Based at Matira, next to Hotel Bora bora (P.O. Box 182, Vaitape- BORA BORA)
Contact: Mr. and Mrs. Michel and Anne CONDESSE
Telephone- (689) 67.71.84/ 67.74.83, Fax- (689) 67.74.83

TOP DIVE RESORT BORA BORA
Based at Vaitape (P.O. Box 515, Vaitape- BORA BORA)
Phone: (689) 60.50.50, Fax: (689) 60.50.51
PADI certified dive centre # S-6409, NITROX dive centre

NEMO WORLD (PADI DIVE CENTER # R65-71)
PO. Box 503- 98 730, Matira- BORA BORA,
Contact: Katia LABAT, Telephone/ Fax- (689) 67.77.85, Vini: (689) 77.67.46

BLUE NUI DIVE CENTERS- BORA BORA
Based out of the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Hotel
(PO. Box 169-98 730, Vaitape- BORA BORA)
Contact: Mr.Gille PETRE
Telephone- (689) 67.79.07, Cell 79.22.72, Fax- (689) 60.50.51

DIVEASY
Located on Matira point, (PO. Box 86-98 730, Vaitape- BORA BORA)
Contact: Mr. Ben HERITEAU
Telephone- (689) 79.22.55, Fax- (689) 67.69.36