Hapatoni Bay (Tahuata)

Marquesas Pelagic Point

Traitors Bay (Hiva Oa)

Vaitahu Bay

French Polynesian cuisine is a delicious fusion of traditional Polynesian cooking methods with French culinary influence. The iconic dish is poisson cru, fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk, served with vegetables. Other staples include grilled mahi-mahi and tuna, fafaru (fermented fish), and poe (tropical fruit pudding made with banana, papaya, or mango and coconut milk). Fresh breadfruit, taro, and sweet potato accompany most meals. The French influence brings quality baguettes, croissants, pastries, and fine wines to even the most remote islands. Roulettes (food trucks) in Papeete serve affordable Chinese, French, and Polynesian dishes.

Liveaboard vessel

Hiva Oa Lodge

Pension Marohei

Pension Raivavae

Hiva Oa and Tahuata represent the most remote diving experience available in French Polynesia, two southern Marquesas islands where volcanic cliffs plunge directly into deep Pacific waters creating dramatic underwater environments virtually untouched by tourism. Traitors Bay on Hiva Oa offers hammerhead shark sightings during seasonal visits, alongside grey reef sharks, rays, and deep volcanic walls that drop into seemingly bottomless blue water. The island is famous as the final home of painter Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel, adding cultural significance to the remote setting. Tahuata's Hapatoni Bay features pristine boulder walls in remarkably clear water with schooling snapper, giant groupers, and occasional manta ray visits. Vaitahu Bay provides coral patches with macro life including cuttlefish and nudibranchs. The Marquesas archipelago is known for big pelagic encounters including whale sharks, melon-headed whales, and the occasional visit from oceanic species that rarely appear in the sheltered waters of the Tuamotus. Infrastructure on both islands is extremely limited, with only a handful of pensions and no commercial dive centres. Diving is arranged informally through local contacts or as part of liveaboard expeditions that periodically visit the Marquesas. The combination of raw volcanic scenery, genuine wilderness diving, cultural heritage, and encounters with large pelagic species makes these islands a compelling destination for experienced and adventurous divers who value exploration over comfort. The steep terrain, towering waterfalls, and deeply carved valleys create a landscape of extraordinary beauty both above and below the water.

Hiva Oa & Tahuata (Marquesas)

Air Tahiti flights from Papeete via Nuku Hiva. Hiva Oa has an airstrip at Atuona. Tahuata is reached by boat from Hiva Oa.

Where to Stay in Hiva Oa & Tahuata (Marquesas)

Accommodation Overview

Recommended Areas

Pensions

Guesthouses

Featured Hotels & Resorts

Liveaboard vessel

Hiva Oa Lodge

Pension Marohei

Pension Raivavae