Travel & Hospitality Awards | Oceania 2019 | www.thawards.com

DIVERS PARADISE
The inviting turquoise waters of French Polynesia are only broken up by the infinite
beauty that sits atop of them in the form of the islands themselves. A quick dip
below the surface of these surrounding waters will lead to a discovery of a world packed
full with wildlife and stunning corals that any diver, experienced to beginner would
appreciate.
On the main island of Tahiti, then you will no doubt take a dive to see The Wrecks. Here
you will discover the remains of a World War Two minesweeper that was sunk in 1967. It
is thought that it was used as an inter-island ferry before it was deliberately sunk. Schools
of fish weave in-between the wreckage, making it a must see site. Whale season is from
August – September to October – November and can usually be spotted in Moorea and
Tahiti.
11 of the islands currently have diving
centers, leaving you with plenty of options
as you select where you want to dive,
whether it’s the Tuamotus famed for its low
lying coral atolls, or the Society Islands that
are brimming with deep green mountains
and picturesque waterfalls. The best time
to visit is between March and September,
having said that, conditions for diving are
usually excellent no matter what time of
the year. Water temperatures never usually
go below 25 degrees Celsius.
Infamous dive spots of the region include
Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa, particularly for
drift divers as you will be awe inspired by
the Barracudas and sharks that call this
place home. Bora Bora contains a thrilling
lagoon where you can get super close to
manta rays, sharks and turtles alongside a
coral wall. Moorea is a dive spot exclusively
for those who want to dive with sharks, in
particular reef sharks and lemon sharks. For
those that love Stingrays, head to Taotoi
which has the exciting ‘Stingray World.’
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