Diving & Travel Guide to Austral Islands

About Austral Islands

The Austral Islands are the most remote and least developed archipelago in French Polynesia, a chain of volcanic and coral islands in the far south of the territory that offers some of the most pristine and undisturbed diving in the Pacific. Rurutu is the headline destination, world-famous for humpback whale encounters from August to October when mothers and calves shelter in the island's shallow bays. Regulated snorkelling with the whales is permitted under strict guidelines, providing one of the most intimate cetacean encounters available anywhere. While scuba diving with the whales is not permitted, the reef diving around Rurutu features clear walls, grey reef sharks, turtles, and excellent macro life. Tubuai has the largest lagoon in the Australs, with coral gardens, giant clams, eagle rays, and pristine outer reef passes patrolled by barracuda and sharks. Very few dive operators exist on Tubuai, ensuring uncrowded conditions. Raivavae features a stunning lagoon often described as the most beautiful in French Polynesia, with lush coral growth, turtles, dolphins, untouched walls, and occasional whale sharks. Rimatara is rarely dived and hosts endemic marine species in its small lagoon, offering genuine exploration diving for the adventurous. The Austral Islands' southern latitude means cooler water temperatures than the rest of French Polynesia, but the trade-off is extraordinarily healthy reefs and the unique whale encounters that make this archipelago a bucket-list destination. Infrastructure is minimal throughout, with small pensions providing the only accommodation and informal diving arrangements the norm.

Highlights

• ✓Rurutu Whale Encounters: World-famous humpback whale snorkelling (August to October) with regulated encounters. Reef diving with sharks, turtles, and macro.
• ✓Tubuai Lagoon: Large lagoon with coral gardens, giant clams, eagle rays, and pristine outer reef passes with barracuda and sharks.
• ✓Raivavae: Stunning lagoon with lush coral, turtles, dolphins, untouched walls, and occasional whale sharks.
• ✓Rimatara: Rarely dived lagoon with macro life and endemic species, genuine exploration diving.

Getting There

Air Tahiti flights from Papeete to Tubuai and Rurutu take approximately two hours. Flights to Raivavae are less frequent.