Tahiti peninsula scuba sites
With Mokarran Diving discover the best diving spots in Tahiti. The wild coast is full of drop-offs, passes, coral reefs that you can discover in an exclusive way. It's simple, we are the only dive center on this part of the island. It is the guarantee of tranquility, of never meeting other diving boats, nor other divers.
Coral reefs
The reefs of the northern coast of the peninsula are covered with splendid corals in an absolutely exceptional state of preservation. It is here that we find the famous "fields of roses". Elsewhere in Polynesia these specific coral formations are most often around -50m while here they form in places from 20m as in the photo above. And especially the "roses" of the north coast of the peninsula extend over more than 3 km.
Pueu roses
Relief: The dive takes place on a beautifully preserved coral reef that forms real coral roses, mainly of the type montipora foliosa And Russian Porites over 3 km long. Some colonies exceed 3m in wingspan. It is an exceptional site.
Even if "the rose field" is only accessible from level PE40, level 1s will be able to dive on the upper part of the reef and also enjoy magnificent, extremely well-preserved corals.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral sharks, heterocongers, all reef fish.
Depth: from -8 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Roses Garden
Relief: This dive takes place on an exceptionally preserved coral reef. More than fifteen species of coral are listed there and pile up on top of each other.
The first coral roses form at a depth of 20m, which means you can enjoy them from level 1.
Wildlife: School of fusiliers, hawksbill turtles, eels, all reef fish.
Depth: from -6 to -50m
Accessible from level 1.
Mononoke
Relief: This coral reef is open on a false pass. The corals between 5 and 20m are very well preserved. A gentle slope leads to a plateau between 20m and 30m deep where magnificent corals alternate with strips of white sand. From 35m the pink ones take over and at 40m have reached the edge before the drop-off.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral or blacktip sharks, schools of fusiliers, heteroconger eels, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
Nausicaa
Relief: A gentle slope begins a few meters below the surface to reach a plateau that forms at -40m. The drop-off begins at around -50m and on the break there are some beautiful reliefs composed of deep faults.
Wildlife: The corals are splendid at all depths. In places they form like giant mushrooms where fish find refuge.
Roses appear around 50m.
Turtles, coral sharks, schools of fusiliers, tuna passages, all reef fish.
Depth: -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Totoro Reef
Relief: This is the angle of the Totoro pass. You can start the dive on the ocean side and finish it on the lagoon side or vice versa. The top of the reef has very well-preserved corals, from 8m a small drop-off begins that goes down to 30m.
At the end of the dive it is possible to position yourself under the break of a wave in an area protected from the movements of the water. The spectacle is superb.
Wildlife: School of black triggerfish, turtles, coral sharks, napoleon fish, paddle perches, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
Demoiselle Fuz
Relief: The dive begins on the lagoon side on a shallow that slowly drops to the bottom. Heading towards the ocean, a drop-off forms from -3m to -30m. On top, the corals are superb and further down, there are a good number of crevices that hide small fauna. The dive ends in the ocean on a gently sloping reef.
Wildlife: School of damselfish fusiliers, turtles, coral sharks, school of fusiliers, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -25m
Accessible from level 1
The passes
These are openings in the coral reef, the main points of exchange between the lagoon and the ocean. They are the place of passage for many species when others have settled there.
It is usually in the passes that life is concentrated. You can find all sorts of species here: jacks, barracudas, tuna, bonito, sharks. It is also here that you have the best chance of finding large schools of fish.
The Totoro pass
Relief: A drop-off rises from the abyssal depths to -40m. At this depth, the plateau begins, gradually rising toward the lagoon until it reaches a shelf from -25m to -15m.
Wildlife: Barracudas, turtles, nurse sharks, coral sharks, various species of jacks, schools of milkfish, starry pufferfish, bass, and all reef fish. Unexpected encounters.
Depth: From -10m to -50m
The Tautira Faults
Relief: This dive takes place on the side of a pass. The drop-off has collapsed, forming a maze of corridors, cavities, and rock passages between -6m and -20m. The relief is stunning.
One can leave the rubble to descend deeper by venturing slightly into the middle of the pass. There, large rocky blocks can be found, providing shelter for the local fauna.
Wildlife: Many green and hawksbill turtles, nurse sharks, coral sharks, yellow gorgonians at -30m, schools of big-eyed jacks, bass schools, and mullet schools.
Depth: From -6m to -40m
Accessible from Level 1.
The 12 "m" pass
Relief: A superb drop-off rises from the depths of the ocean to a step at -35m. During the dive we follow this step starting from the right corner to reach the left corner.
On the slope there are many crevices where a variety of fauna hides.
Wildlife: Turtles, sleeping sharks, tuna, schools of triggerfish, mackerel jacks in the blue. Unexpected encounters.
Lobster to be found in the crevices
Depth: from -35m to -50m
Accessible from PE40 level
The Floc pass
Relief: This pass is not very wide, and divers can easily cross it. In the middle, you can wait for passing fauna.
The drop-off on the ocean side is at -50m and leads to a plateau that rises to -30m.
On the lagoon side, there is a vast hole that descends to depths that have never been measured.
The bottom of the pass is covered in holes and crevices where hundreds of perch come out and hide.
After exploring the bottom, the dive continues by following the drop-off on the left side of the pass, bringing us back into the lagoon. Fissures follow one after another, with a passage under the rock before reaching a shallow coral garden to end the dive.
Wildlife: Turtles, platax, nurse sharks, coral sharks or blacktip sharks, trevallies, schools of blue-striped perch, fusilier schools, mackerel jacks, all the reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from Level 1 for the angles and PE40 for the pass.
The 2 secs
Relief: In the middle of a pass we dive on two rocks which take shape at -50m and rise vertically to -6m. The relief is superb.
On top, a magnificent coral garden thrives from -15m.
Wildlife: The ocean side of the 2 secs is covered with yellow gorgonians from -30m.
Tuna, school of fusiliers, school of black triggerfish, sleeper shark, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
Pueu's pass
Relief: This pass is a very clear break about sixty meters long in the reef.
On the ocean side, a plateau rises from the depths to -35m where a ridge forms which immediately descends on the lagoon side to more than 60m. Divers follow the top of the ridge at -30m going from one corner of the pass to the other.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral sharks, sleeper sharks (on the crest), tuna, schools of triggerfish, perch, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -35m
Accessible from level 1 for the angles and PE40 for the pass
Hitiaa's pass
Relief: The step of this pass is at -30m it is formed at the top of a vertical and dizzying drop. In the middle of the step stands a dry which goes back to -10m around which life is concentrated.
Wildlife: School of black-spotted perch, school of grey and coppery salema, Napoleon wrasse, tuna, coral shark, anthias, reef fish. Unexpected encounters.
Depth: from -10 to -50m
Accessible from Level 1 (depending on the current)
The drop-offs
The drop-offs are real underwater cliffs open to the ocean. Some begin just below the surface and end at a depth of 80/100m, while others take shape at around -40m and plunge into the abyss.
There you can find faults, overhangs, caves, vaults, which are all hiding places for the fauna that lives there. You should also look at the ocean side because the passage of pelagics is frequent.
Pueu faults
Relief: It is a steep drop-off that begins at 8m and plunges to depths inaccessible to air divers.
The slope is marked by a succession of more or less wide faults, all punctuated by numerous crevices.
You can enjoy the relief by stepping out into the blue, looking for little creatures in the holes or simply savoring those that come to you.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral sharks, schools of mackerel jacks, schools of fusiliers, tuna, all the reef fish. Unexpected encounters.
Depth: from -8 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Belvedères
Relief: Along a drop-off, two projections spaced about a hundred meters apart plunge into the blue. Between these "belvederes" the relief forms a sort of cirque which plunges in a half-basin to a depth of -50m.
Wildlife: School of mackerel jacks, school of black triggerfish, fusiliers, green and/or hawksbill turtles, purple anthias, star puffer fish, squid, paddle perch, all reef fish.
Depth: from -6 to -50m
Accessible from level 1.
The buoy
Relief: On the corner of a pass, in barely 3m of depth, a fault takes shape. It descends vertically to 15m then opens onto an abyssal drop-off.
Wildlife: Thousands of black and blue triggerfish, schools of mackerel jacks, tuna, turtles, unexpected encounters.
Depth: from -10 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Gorgon Arch
Relief: It is a steep drop-off along which there is an overhang about thirty meters long which shelters a multitude of yellow gorgonians of impressive diameters.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral or blacktip sharks, schools of fusiliers, mackerel jacks, blackspotted perch, passage of tuna, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Pueu Drop-off
Relief: A first drop-off from 5m to 25m deep overhangs a second drop-off which goes down much deeper. The upper part includes some beautiful faults and cavities filled with whip coral.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral sharks, tuna, napoleon, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The Lobster Cave
Relief: At a depth of 40m, there is a crack in which the lobster cave is located. It is a small cave that can be entered by two people at most.
Wildlife: The interior is lined with myripristis, shrimps, cryptic species and in almost every hole a lobster is hidden. A huge blue trevally has taken up residence there.
Depth: -40m
Accessible from PE40 level
The 12 "M" Drop-off
Relief: This is the angle of the pass of the same name which extends over a steep drop-off which begins at -5m and descends to unfathomable depths. It is made up of numerous faults and crevices.
Wildlife: Tunas, school of fusiliers, school of black triggerfish, cryptic species, all reef fish.
Depth: from -5 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
Lagon dives
Lagoon sites are often very calm and protected from ocean swell by the coral reef.
An ideal place for the first level 1 training dives or for introductory dives, it should not be believed that there is nothing to observe for more experienced divers. The atmosphere is often superb thanks to the shallow white sand bottoms enhanced by the sunlight that pierces very clear water. The coral species differ from those encountered on the external slope, they shelter a rich, varied and sometimes unique fauna.
The Totoro swimming pool
Relief: Near the Totoro corner, a white sand bottom extends to an average of -6m. Coral potatoes are scattered everywhere. More depth can be found by following the sand slope that sinks into the lagoon.
Wildlife: School of black triggerfish, turtles, coral sharks, napoleon fish, paddle perches, all reef fish.
Depth: from -2 to -40m
Accessible from introductory dive
The Corail garden
Relief: On a huge flat bottom of white sand are laid a multitude of perfectly preserved coral potatoes. Many fish shelter there and even some species that are only seen here. A magnificent passage under rock in 6m of water offers a rare play of light.
Wildlife: Turtles, coral reef sharks, many cryptic species, all reef fish.
Depth: from -3 to -15m
Accessible from baptism
The Triggerfish Tower
Relief: A dry rises from the depths of the lagoon (around -60m) to a sand plateau at -15m, which forms a step before the dry, similar to a tower, rises to the surface.
Wildlife: Napoleon, turtle, moray eel, clown fish, convict soapfish, pipefish and thousands of black triggerfish.
Depth: from -8 to -50m
Accessible from level 1
The green tag
Relief: It is a sand plateau at the entrance to a pass 6m deep on which rests coral potatoes. Coming out towards the ocean the plateau transforms into a small drop of -3m to -30m. There are a few faults all along as well as a passage under rock.
Wildlife: We often come across green and hawksbill turtles, coral sharks, nurse sharks, turtles, a myriad of pyramid butterfly fish, paddle perches and all the reef fish.
Depth: from -2m to -30m
Accessible from introductory dive.
The Taravao Reef
Relief: A dry rises from -50m to -10m. With a diameter of about thirty meters, it is easy to go around. The wall is full of holes and crevices that shelter a rich and varied fauna. From -15m a pretty coral garden forms.
Wildlife: Turtles, schools of fusiliers, passages of tuna, jacks, all the reef fish.
Depth: from -8m to -50m
Accessible from level 1