Bora Bora

Diving here is done from boats, with lagoon dives inside the barrier reef and ocean dives on the reef outside it. The ride to Anau takes about 5 minutes, and at Tapu and Haapiti boats moor in about 9 m (30 ft) of water above drop-offs that fall away much deeper. Dives run in small groups, and guides pick each site to suit the weather, the currents and the visibility.

The underwater terrain is a sequence of coral slopes, walls and drop-offs. On ocean dives, blacktip and lemon sharks work the reef with Napoleon wrasse alongside them. Lagoon dives bring manta rays, spotted eagle rays, turtles and coral gardens, and on the large sand bank below the wall at Toopua, eagle rays and stingrays forage for food. Shark fishing has been banned since 2012, and many species of sharks and rays inhabit the surrounding waters.

Bora Bora is an ideal place to learn to dive, and instructors take each diver to the sites that suit their level. Most dives go deeper than the 12 m limit of Junior Open Water divers, who need a private instructor. Private guided dives suit underwater photographers and divers who prefer relaxed diving with long observation time, and nitrox is available alongside air.