When is the Best Time to Dive in French Polynesia?

The country's dry season runs from March to November and offers the best visibility and calm seas, while the weather on land is less humid and slightly cooler than in the austral summer. This is also peak time to see pelagic species, such as manta rays. November to April marks the rainy season, when the water is at its warmest and the landscapes are wonderfully verdant thanks to the rain showers. July and August, as well as the Christmas and New Year period, are peak seasons for visitors, so they tend to be the most expensive and busiest months to visit - we'd advise avoiding them if you can.

If snorkelling with humpback whales is on your bucket list, head to the waters around Tahiti and Moorea between July and November, when mothers migrate through French Polynesia's warm waters to give birth and raise their calves. Hammerhead sharks can be seen from December to March in Fakarava, but the best months to dive with them are January and February, when strong currents flowing through the Tiputa Channel attract eagle rays for the hammerheads to eat. To witness the phenomenon of marbled grouper spawning, head to Fakarava during the full moon in June or July, where you can expect thousands of groupers gathered together alongside hundreds of grey reef sharks. Grey reef sharks can be seen around Fakarava all year round, but it's particularly special to see them in such large groups at this time of year.

Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in French Polynesia, as well as our suggestions for the best places to dive in each month of the year. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice.