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French Polynesia Diving Reviews:
Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

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Average Overall Ratings
(over last 3 years, 30 of 163 reports
Advanced:  4 stars Beginner:  3 stars
UW Photography:  3 stars
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Page # 1  2  
Te Ave Nui/ Maitai Dream Full report   Fakarava   Operation offers essentially two superb dives: high energy pass dive with inbound tide into lagoon, and a wall dive outside the l... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
7/2003   DAVID SHEM-TOV
<100 Dives 		 
Tetamanu diving center Full report   Fakarava   Fakarava is known as a shark destination. The south pass is known as a center for both sharks and groupers (there is an annual gr... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
6/2014   Michael N. Hofman
1000+ Dives 		 
Tetamanu Village Full report   Fakarava   A bit of French helps a lot, without it´s deaf language. Arrival at Fakarava on Air Tahiti around 4 p. m. Due to heavy seas an... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
9/2008   Michael Joest
1000+ Dives 		Photos available 
The 6 Passengers/ Hotel Maitai Rangiroa   Rangiroa   "Dive Review Rangiroa Tiputa's Pass "
Much of the diving in Rangiroa is on the Tiputa's Pass or surrounding Outer Reef. We began with an afternoon Refresher dive on the... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
6/2023   Jacob Rosenstein
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
The Six Passengers Full report   Rangiroa Atoll   "Wonderful Diving + Exceptional Service"
As is typical in French Polynesia, this is not aresort with overnight accommodations, but a dive center serving mostly the Tiputa ... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
10/2021   Blake Hottle
500+ Dives 		 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
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Reef & Rainforest is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. Want to see sharks, tropical islands, overwater bungalows? We specialize in planning adventures to French Polynesia.
The Six Passengers/ Pension Bounty Full report   Rangiroa   "Wild diving in Rangiroa"
We spent six days diving diving with Six Passengers. All of our guides were safety- conscious, knowledgeable about the dives sites ... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
7/2016   Lindsay Battles
100+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
The Six Passengers/ Pension Loyna Full report   Rangiroa   I've spent a week diving Tiputa and Avatoru Pass twice a day with Six Passengers Dive Centre but also they are available for a 3 d... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2013   Giuseppe Corcione
1000+ Dives 		 
The Six Passengers/ Hotel Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   The Six Passengers was a short walk down the beach from our hotel. Most of the staff spoke little English, but enough to provide b... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
9/2006   Vicky Polashock
100+ Dives 		 
Tiki II   Fakarava   Lots of everything, sharks, turtles, rays, etc. . . . in Oct the humpbacks are birthing & you can hear them & see them. Livermore ... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2023   Rika Pies
500+ Dives 		Photos available 
Top Dive Full report   Rangiroa   We did 8 dives in Rangiroa with Top Dive. We had heard that there are hundreds of sharks and an awesome dive through the 2 passes ... Full report  
3 stars
2 stars  
9/2009   Molly Rosenberger
500+ Dives 		 
Top Dive Full report   Rangiroa   Very friendly and knowledgable dive masters. Although they were native French- speakers, their English was great and it was very e... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
8/2009   Michael Benenson
500+ Dives 		 
Top Dive Full report   Moorea   We had a great dive experience with Top Dive in Moorea. We were met at the scheduled pickup location on time; the dive operation ... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
8/2009   Michael Benenson
500+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Kia Ora, Full report   Moorea, Rangiroa, Bora Bora   Spent 14 days in French Polynesia. First 5 days were spent in Moorea in which 2 days of diving were done. Moorea is simple and g... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
8/2008   Morgan Armstrong
250+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Multiple Full report   Bora Bora, Moorea, Rangiroa   We went to three different islands, dived with one op on all three. Top Dive had locations on all three islands. On Bora Bora an... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
8/2008   Ken Metz
500+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Maitai Dream Fakarava Full report   Fakarava   We arrived via Air Tahiti from Papeete to the small Fakarava landing strip without the hassles of big airports, and within 30 minu... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
5/2008   jeff thornton
250+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Pensions Full report   Rangiroa & Fakarava   Tahiti- Rangiroa- Fakarava Trip report 12- 25- 06 to 1- 06- 07 Wow…where do I begin…First off the waters were a chilly 83 to 85 degre... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
12/2006   scott johnson
250+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Hotel Kaveka Full report   Moorea   Diving was very good. It rained in Moorea on the first three days. On the third day, seas were very rough. Top Dive does not charge... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
5/2006   Edward Leibowitz
250+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Club Med Full report   Bora Bora   The dive company and boats were in great shape, they had aqualung calipso regs and scubapro bcs. all tanks were yoke (nitrox tanks... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
4/2006   Morgan Richardson
250+ Dives 		 
Top Dive Full report   moorea   Top Dive in Moorea is destroying the coral reef with their anchor! Rather than hire a skipper to man the boat during the dive, the... Full report  
3 stars
1 stars  
12/2005   peter joseph
100+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Hibiscus, Maitai Polynesia Full report   Moorea,Bora Bora   Dove with Top Dive in both Moorea and Bora Bora. Took 10 dive inter- island package. 6 dives in Moorea and 4 in Bora Bora. Top D... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
8/2005   Michael Kamens
100+ Dives 		 
Top Dive/ Club Med Full report   Bora Bora   Top Dive was a very professional well run organisation, located at a hotel and restraunt of the same name in the only town on Bora... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
8/2005   Arik Olson
<100 Dives 		 
TOPdive   Fakarava and Rangiroa   "French Polynesia - Atoll Passes, Rangiroa and Fakarava "
Let's start with French Polynesia is very expensive. We knew this before hand but this was definitely a bucket list type of dive ... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
5/2024   Peter Neubauer
1000+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Havaiki Lodge (Fakarava) Maitai Ran   Fakarava, Rangiroa   "Good diving, topside experience, unhealthy reef"
Fakarava and Rangiroa are small islets on their respective lagoons. I chose these destinations, hotels, and dive operator based on... Full report  
3 stars
2 stars  
3/2024   Michael Kay
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Maitai Rangiora   Rangoria   "Great diving / poor rental equipment"
We stayed at the Maitai which was an excellent hotel. The accommodations were very nice – all bungalows, and the restaurant was f... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
3/2024   Hugh Westermeyer
1000+ Dives 		Photos available 
TOPdive/ Maitai Rangiroa   Rangiroa   "Great Advanced Diving Destination"
Wish we'd started going here years ago. French Polynesia was promoted for the sharks which are there but it offers so much more th... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
2/2023   Gail King
1000+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ MaiTai resort   Rangiroa   "Pass flying in Rangiroa"
The diving- This is not for the faint of heart or persons without excellent buoyancy control. TopDive consistently ran us outsid... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
1/2023   DEE FOSTER
500+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Hotel Mai Tai Full report   Rangiroa   "Beyond expectations trip to Rangiroa"
Review of Rangiroa Rangiroa has been on our list of must dive locations for over a decade and we finally made it there! Althoug... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
10/2022   Luz Cobarrubias
1000+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Why did we wait so long to go dive in French Polynesia?"
Three days diving in Rangiroa was part of our trip to Polynesia. Top Dive is a well run operation, and an easy 2- 5 minute walk al... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
4/2022   Eric Schindler
500+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Intercontinental Papeete Full report   Papeete   "Did I die and go diving in Heaven?"
My wife and I visited Papeete at the end of biking vacation. We did not pack for diving. We stayed two days at the Intercontinenta... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
11/2021   Daniel Fazekas
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa Full report   Rangiroa   "Great drift diving and amazing resort "
Rangiroa is only a short 15 min flight from Tikehau where we begun our French Polynesian Island diving hop. Masks on "inside" the... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
11/2021   Sean Brady
250+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Paradise Found"
TopDive with Yannick was great. First time on a dive trip that we, two adults + two teenagers, rented regs and BCs instead of brin... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
6/2021   Martin Klein
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Havaiki Full report   Fakarava   "Not just for pearl divers"
Fakarava is one of the more rustic islands in French Polynesia. Havaiki, where we stayed, is said to be the most upscale accommoda... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
6/2021   Martin Klein
250+ Dives 		3Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Traveling and Diving During a Pandemic "
We loved diving with the very friendly dolphins. The resort was fantastic and the food was great. Top Dive is very organized and... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
12/2020   Ann Harwood
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Intercontinental Le Moana Full report   Bora Bora   "Two Easy Dives in Paradise"
Dove Anau and Tapu dive sites in the Bora Bora lagoon with TopDive while on vacation in Bora Bora. Divemaster Berton was solid an... Full report  
3 stars
5 stars  
11/2019   Zygmunt Dembek
1000+ Dives 		Photos available
1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive Full report   Rangiroa   "Not what I expected"
We went in January, which was billed as "hammerhead season". I was expecting a lot of pelagics but other than a few small sharks ... Full report  
2 stars
1 stars  
11/2018   C Leroy Anderson
1000+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ [4 season and Sofitel Full report   Bora-Bora andMourea   "Great water"
My wife and I went to French Polynesia that we did not know. The trip was organized by a new for us Travel Agent. The flight to L... Full report  
3 stars
5 stars  
11/2018   Bernard Dubois
250+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Tiputa Pass delivers the goods!"
We stayed at the Kia Ora and used the Top Dive outpost on the resort’s property. We stayed in an overwater bungalow at the Kia an... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
10/2018   craig grube
100+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Wonderful diving with dolphins!"
We did 18 dives with Top Dive (excellent organization), which was on the premises of our hotel, the Kia Ora. We dove the Tiputa Pa... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2018   Stephanie Knott
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "Dive in Paradise "
After a very disappointing experience with the French Polynesia Master Liveaboard, it was with tremendous trepidation that I reach... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
7/2018   MAX WEINMANN
500+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Oceania Cruise Ship - Marina Full report   Tahiti,Moorea,Bora-Bora   "Diving French Polynesia Again February 2018"
This was our third trip to the French Polynesia Islands –(2001, 2013 were two previous – 2013 stayed at the InterContinental Bora- ... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
2/2018   Richard E. Heath
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora Full report   Bora Bora   "Bora Bora in the Rain"
Despite the unusually heavy rains and runoff during our stay on Bora Bora, TopDive went the extra yard to keep us diving. The lago... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
2/2018   James Fox
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Motu Aito Full report   Fakarava   "Fakarava South Pass"
[19- 25th July 2017. It’s been about 6 months, but I can see and hear it well. We arrived in a storm, waves, rain and sheets of wat... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
1/2018   Alexander Armintor
100+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   "If you like swimming with lots of sharks, this is the place to be!"
Fantastic for swimming with lots of sharks, especially if you are comfortable with current. The best sightings occur is very stron... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
3/2017   Christine Nidd
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Full report       "Excellent"
Profusion of sea life, including Dolphins, dozens of grey reef shark, black tip reef shark, schools of barracuda, and large school... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
11/2016   Barbara Zerbin
250+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Raimiti Full report   Fakarava - South (Tetemanu)   "Holy Fakarava! (South)"
Spectacular diving. Fakarava's south pass has the highest known concentration of reef sharks in the world. In July and August, the... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
11/2016   Lindsay Battles
100+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
TOPdive/ Intercontinental Full report   Moorea   "Top Dive Moorea from a 35 plus year recreational diver"
I am writing this to share my experience with other divers. It is an excellent operation. I have been an active scuba diver for ... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
7/2016   Douglas C. Spencer
1000+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Big Fish Expeditions Full report   Nuku Hiva & Rangiroa   "French Polynesia - Nuku Hiva & Rangiroa - EPIC!"
This was a two- part trip of a lifetime with the first week on our own and the second week a guided expedition with Andy Murch of B... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
2/2015   Gregg Backemeyer
500+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise Full report   Fakarava North and South   "Great diving in Fakaravaa"
Some of the best dives I've had anywhere. Sharks: Fleets of black tips, many lagoon white tips, grays and a few of the "banded" ... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
9/2014   Jason Marks
500+ Dives 		 
TOPdive Full report   Rangiroa   Rangiroa is one of the dive destinations in French Polynesia. Topdive is located in many of the French Polynesia destinations. I... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2014   Michael N. Hofman
1000+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Oceania, Marina Full report   Fakarava and Bora Bora   We had a good commuication with Top Dive from before we left home, and recruited a few more divers from the people we met on the w... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
1/2012   linda nelson
1000+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Kia Ora Resort Full report   rangiroa   Stayed at Kia Ora Resort which was just re- opened after a huge (reported $20 million) re- modeling. EVERYTHING at the resort is fir... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
12/2011   Andy Wiessner
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Hitlon - Overwater Bungalows Full report   Moorea   "My wife and I dove 2 days (Aug 5 and 6, 2011) with Top Dives- Bathsys in Moorea. The dive operation was ok (some of the dive mast... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
8/2011   Gary
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort] Full report   Moorea]   The worst thing is thjat the reef is dead. It is completely bleached. The Dive operator did the best they could to entertain us wi... Full report  
1 stars
3 stars  
8/2011   Dmitry K. Pasikhov
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ White Sands Full report   Fakarava   5 Dives in Fakarava, French Polynesia (aka Tahiti) from July 30th to August 1st, 2011. There are really only two main dive areas ... Full report  
4 stars
1 stars  
7/2011   Gary
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Pension Havaiki/ Relais de Josephin Full report   Rangiroa, Fakarava   The diving in the atolls is exponentially better than the main islands. (I dove Bora Bora in 2009 and was underwhelmed. ) If you a... Full report  
4 stars
1 stars  
4/2011   Elizabeth Crapo
250+ Dives 		 
TOPdive/ Club Bali Hai Full report   Moorea   We did not plan on diving with TOPdive. Rather, I read prior reviews in Undercurrent and other publications and settled on Scuba P... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
6/2007   Dennis Lewis
<100 Dives 		 
Tuamotu Pongee, Y AKA Plongee, O2, Enata/ see story Full report   Tuamotu Archipelago   "Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia"
Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia Last night I dreamed of sharks. It was a river of sharks parading through a deep pass - ... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
7/2019   Marie L York
1000+ Dives 		Photos available
11Helpful vote(s) received
various/ [same]various   Rangiroa   "Be aware whether dive operators are on rigid repetitive schedules. "
The French operation (which may be quite different now) scheduled their dives on the basis of the tide schedules and were hugely e... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
8/2024   Fred H Kolo
250+ Dives 		 
World Wide Dive and Sail- French Polynesia Master Full report LiveAboard Tuamotos   "Good Trip for Sharks and Good Visibility"
This is my second trip on this live aboard ( both were dedicated photo trips). I made one several years ago. The boat is well laid... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
8/2019   Mark Vanderlinden
1000+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
Y AKA Full report   Rangiroa   Rangiroa is one of the dive destinations in French Polynesia. Y AKA is a relatively new dive operation run by Marco and Katy, two... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2014   Michael N. Hofman
1000+ Dives 		 
Y Aka Plongee/ Maitai Hotel Rangiroa Full report   Rangiroa   "Great diving on Rangiroa with Y Aka Plongee"
Amazing large animals - fish and dolphins. Saw many types of sharks - great hammerhead, white tip, black tip, silver tip, grey ree... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
12/2015   Tim Schaiff
100+ Dives 		 
Y aka. / Top Dive/ Kia Ora Full report   Rangiroa   Let me review the diving first. My report I feel is incomplete for the reason the the island has basically two dive site, both ar... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
10/2014   Anthony Bracco
250+ Dives 		3Helpful vote(s) received
Yaka Plongee, Dive Spirit/ Raira Lagon, Havaiki Full report   Rangiroa, Fakarava   Buy your plane ticket 9 months in advance - mine went up 500 bucks 6 months in advance and I am told this is pretty standard. Don'... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
3/2013   M. B.
<100 Dives 		 
Page # 1  2  
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Diving Guide to French Polynesia

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