Reefwander
A feather star grips a tan gorgonian sea fan on a Beqa Lagoon reef wall

Region

Diving in the Pacific Islands

44 curated dive destinations across 17 countries including Chile and Cook Islands in the Pacific Islands. Conditions peak around Jul, Aug and Sep.

Beqa Lagoon · photo Jay Brasher

Destinations
44
Countries
17
Peak season
Jul–Sep

Common encountersReef sharksSea turtlesTrevally & jacksBarracudaEagle rays

Diving by country

What is diving in the Pacific Islands like?

The Pacific Islands divide between the reefs and wrecks of Micronesia and the atolls of Polynesia. In Micronesia, divers hook into the reef at Blue Corner in Palau while grey reef sharks patrol the current, resident manta rays cruise cleaning stations on Yap, and Chuuk Lagoon holds dozens of intact Second World War wrecks. Bikini Atoll adds sunken battleships and an aircraft carrier in a former nuclear test lagoon.

French Polynesia is pass diving on the tide: dolphins ride the current alongside sharks through Tiputa Pass at Rangiroa, and hundreds of grey reef sharks pack South Pass at Fakarava during the June grouper spawn. Fiji is soft coral and sharks, from the current-fed Great White Wall at Rainbow Reef to the bull sharks of Beqa Lagoon, and Kona in Hawaii runs a nightly manta dive.

Best diving in the Pacific Islands for wrecks, big animals, beginners, macro and liveaboards

One destination per theme, picked from the species, dive types, access and site records on each destination page.

When is the best time to dive the Pacific Islands?

The busiest stretch is July–October: in September, 21 of the 44 destinations here are in peak season.

November is the leanest month, when Isle of Pines, New Caledonia and Raiatea & Taha'a are still at their best.

Fakarava, Guam, Isle of Pines and 14 more rate good or better in every month.

Destinations in prime seasonRated good
Destinations in Pacific Islands in prime and good season, by month
MonthPrimeGood
Jan1015
Feb1014
Mar1119
Apr1325
May1527
Jun1523
Jul1819
Aug2017
Sep2118
Oct1724
Nov336
Dec918

Compare every destination in the Pacific Islands

Tap a column heading to sort.

Dive destinations in Pacific Islands: best months, water temperature, level, signature animal and access
Beqa Lagoon
Fiji
Jun–Aug24–29°CIntermediateBull sharksDay boat
Bikini Atoll
Marshall Islands
Apr–Nov27–30°CAdvancedReef sharksLiveaboard
Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra
Fiji
Apr–Oct24–29°CIntermediatePristine coralsDay boat, Liveaboard
Bora Bora
French Polynesia
May–Oct26–31°CIntermediateReef sharksDay boat
Chuuk Lagoon
Micronesia
Dec–Mar28–30°CIntermediateTrevally & jacksDay boat, Liveaboard
Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge
Vanuatu
Apr–Nov24–29°CAdvancedSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Fakarava
French Polynesia
Jun–Jul26–29°CAdvancedReef sharksDay boat, Liveaboard
GuamYear-round27–30°CIntermediateReef fish swarmsShore, Day boat
Hilo
United States
Apr–Oct24–27°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Huahine
French Polynesia
Aug–Oct26–31°CIntermediateReef sharksDay boat
Isle of Pines
New Caledonia
Nov–May22–27°CBeginnerReef sharksDay boat
Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe Reef
Fiji
Apr–Oct24–29°CIntermediateManta raysDay boat, Liveaboard
Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore
United States
May–Sep22–28°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Kona
United States
Dec–Apr24–27°CIntermediateManta raysShore, Day boat
Kosrae
Micronesia
Feb–Apr27–30°CBeginnerPristine coralsDay boat
Lifou
New Caledonia
Apr–May23–28°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Majuro & Mili
Marshall Islands
Mar–May28–30°CIntermediateReef sharksDay boat
Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi
United States
Apr–Oct23–27°CIntermediateWhalesShore, Day boat
Maupiti
French Polynesia
Jun–Oct27–29°CBeginnerManta raysDay boat
Moorea
French Polynesia
Aug–Oct26–29°CIntermediateReef sharksShore, Day boat
New Caledonia
France
Sep–Nov21–27°CIntermediateReef sharksShore, Day boat
NiueJul–Sep25–28°CIntermediateSea snakesShore, Day boat
Nuku Hiva
French Polynesia
Jan–Feb27–28°CIntermediateHammerheadsDay boat
Oʻahu
United States
May–Oct23–28°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
PalauDec–Apr27–30°CIntermediateReef sharksDay boat, Liveaboard
Pohnpei
Micronesia
Nov–Apr27–29°CIntermediateManta raysDay boat
Poindimié & Hienghène
France
May–Nov20–28°CIntermediatePygmy seahorsesDay boat
Port Vila & Efate
Vanuatu
Jul–Sep24–30°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Raiatea & Taha'a
French Polynesia
Sep–Nov26–31°CIntermediateReef sharksDay boat
Rainbow Reef & Namena
Fiji
Jun–Oct24–29°CAdvancedManta raysDay boat, Liveaboard
Rangiroa
French Polynesia
Dec–Apr26–29°CAdvancedDolphinsDay boat
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Chile
Dec–Mar21–25°CAdvancedSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Rarotonga & Aitutaki
Cook Islands
May–Oct24–28°CBeginnerWhalesShore, Day boat
Rota
Northern Mariana Islands
Mar–Sep28–30°CIntermediateSea turtlesDay boat
Saipan & Tinian
Northern Mariana Islands
Dec–May27–30°CAdvancedEagle raysShore, Day boat
Savai'i & Upolu
Samoa
May–Oct27–30°CIntermediateSea turtlesShore, Day boat
Savusavu & Natewa Bay
Fiji
Year-round22–30°CIntermediateHammerheadsDay boat, Liveaboard
Tahiti & Teahupo'o
French Polynesia
Aug–Oct26–29°CBeginnerReef sharksDay boat
Tanna & Lenakel
Vanuatu
Apr–Nov24–28°CBeginnerDugongs & manateesShore, Day boat
Tikehau
French Polynesia
Apr–Oct26–29°CIntermediateManta raysDay boat
Vava'u
Tonga
Jul–Oct24–28°CIntermediateWhalesDay boat
Wallis Island (Uvea)
Wallis and Futuna
Year-round28–30°CIntermediateManta raysDay boat
Yap
Micronesia
Dec–Mar27–30°CIntermediateManta raysShore, Day boat
Yasawa Islands
Fiji
May–Oct23–30°CIntermediateManta raysShore, Day boat

Destination guides

44 guides

Dive sites in the Pacific Islands

214 named sites · 44 destinations

Beqa LagoonFiji

4 sites
Beqa Lagoon guide →

Bikini AtollMarshall Islands

3 sites
Bikini Atoll guide →

Bligh Water & Vatu-i-RaFiji

5 sites
Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra guide →

Bora BoraFrench Polynesia

5 sites
Bora Bora guide →

Chuuk LagoonMicronesia

18 sites
Chuuk Lagoon guide →

Espiritu Santo — SS CoolidgeVanuatu

3 sites
Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge guide →

FakaravaFrench Polynesia

2 sites
Fakarava guide →

Guam

4 sites
Guam guide →

HiloUnited States

2 sites
Hilo guide →

HuahineFrench Polynesia

5 sites
Huahine guide →

Isle of PinesNew Caledonia

2 sites
Isle of Pines guide →

Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe ReefFiji

3 sites
Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe Reef guide →

Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South ShoreUnited States

8 sites
Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore guide →

KonaUnited States

7 sites
Kona guide →

KosraeMicronesia

3 sites
Kosrae guide →

LifouNew Caledonia

3 sites
Lifou guide →

Majuro & MiliMarshall Islands

2 sites
Majuro & Mili guide →

Maui, Molokini & LānaʻiUnited States

8 sites
Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi guide →

MaupitiFrench Polynesia

1 site
Maupiti guide →

MooreaFrench Polynesia

3 sites
Moorea guide →

New CaledoniaFrance

17 sites
New Caledonia guide →

Niue

3 sites
Niue guide →

Nuku HivaFrench Polynesia

1 site
Nuku Hiva guide →

OʻahuUnited States

12 sites
Oʻahu guide →

Palau

15 sites
Palau guide →

PohnpeiMicronesia

6 sites
Pohnpei guide →

Poindimié & HienghèneFrance

3 sites
Poindimié & Hienghène guide →

Port Vila & EfateVanuatu

4 sites
Port Vila & Efate guide →

Raiatea & Taha'aFrench Polynesia

5 sites
Raiatea & Taha'a guide →

Rainbow Reef & NamenaFiji

3 sites
Rainbow Reef & Namena guide →

RangiroaFrench Polynesia

1 site
Rangiroa guide →

Rapa Nui (Easter Island)Chile

5 sites
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) guide →

Rarotonga & AitutakiCook Islands

2 sites
Rarotonga & Aitutaki guide →

RotaNorthern Mariana Islands

4 sites
Rota guide →

Saipan & TinianNorthern Mariana Islands

4 sites
Saipan & Tinian guide →

Savai'i & UpoluSamoa

2 sites
Savai'i & Upolu guide →

Savusavu & Natewa BayFiji

4 sites
Savusavu & Natewa Bay guide →

Tahiti & Teahupo'oFrench Polynesia

2 sites
Tahiti & Teahupo'o guide →

Tanna & LenakelVanuatu

5 sites
Tanna & Lenakel guide →

TikehauFrench Polynesia

3 sites
Tikehau guide →

Vava'uTonga

5 sites
Vava'u guide →

Wallis Island (Uvea)Wallis and Futuna

6 sites
Wallis Island (Uvea) guide →

YapMicronesia

5 sites
Yap guide →

Yasawa IslandsFiji

6 sites
Yasawa Islands guide →