Diving & Travel Guide to Huahine (Society Islands)

About Huahine (Society Islands)

Huahine remains one of the most authentic and least touristy islands in the Society archipelago, providing a genuine Polynesian experience combined with surprisingly good diving. The main attraction is the Avapeihi Pass, a drift dive through the channel connecting the lagoon to the open ocean where whitetip reef sharks patrol alongside schooling jacks, trevally, and eagle rays among healthy hard coral formations. The sheltered Muri Beach area, known locally as the Aquarium, offers shallow coral gardens with giant clams, clownfish, and parrotfish in conditions ideal for beginners and snorkellers. The Fitii Wall drops away from the reef edge with gorgonians, schooling barracuda, turtles, and occasional manta rays passing through the blue water. Fare Piti in the calm lagoon provides exceptional macro diving with seahorses, ghost pipefish, and other cryptic species that reward patient observation. Huahine is also famous for its sacred eels, ancient marae temples, and vanilla plantations that add cultural depth to any diving holiday. The island has a handful of professional dive operators and a range of pensions and small resorts that offer authentic Polynesian hospitality at reasonable prices. With fewer divers than Bora Bora or Moorea, Huahine provides a more intimate and unhurried diving experience where you may be the only group at a dive site.

Highlights

• ✓Avapeihi Pass: Drift dive through the main pass with whitetip reef sharks, schooling jacks, trevally, eagle rays, and healthy hard coral formations.
• ✓Muri Beach (The Aquarium): Shallow coral garden with giant clams, clownfish, parrotfish, and excellent conditions for beginners.
• ✓Fitii Wall: Drop-off with gorgonians, schooling barracuda, turtles, and occasional manta rays.
• ✓Fare Piti: Calm lagoon site with seahorses, ghost pipefish, and macro critters ideal for photography.

Getting There

Air Tahiti flights from Papeete take forty minutes. Ferry from Raiatea takes approximately one hour.