Anaho Bay

Hakatea Bay (Daniel's Bay)

Hatiheu

Taiohae Bay Wrecks

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

Nuku Hiva represents a completely different diving paradigm from the coral atolls of the Tuamotus, offering raw volcanic landscapes above water and unique underwater environments shaped by the island's dramatic geological history. Taiohae Bay hosts several scuttled boat wrecks and a plane wreck at various depths, providing artificial reef habitat for frogfish, seahorses, and macro life that make these sites ideal for training and exploration. Hakatea Bay (Daniel's Bay) features wall dives among massive volcanic boulders with schools of jacks, turtles, and pelagic fish, though visibility can be variable depending on runoff from the island's steep valleys. Anaho Bay on the north coast is one of the few areas in the Marquesas with significant coral growth, offering shallow reef diving with moray eels and rays in a sheltered setting. Hatiheu on the northeast coast provides volcanic boulder environments rich in macro critters including nudibranchs and lobsters, with excellent night diving opportunities. The Marquesas are known for big pelagic encounters including whale sharks and melon-headed whales, but infrastructure is limited and diving is arranged informally. The islands receive very few visitors compared to the Society Islands and Tuamotus, preserving an authentic and adventurous diving experience. The dramatic landscape of towering waterfalls, deep valleys, and steep cliffs creates one of the most visually spectacular settings for diving in the Pacific. For experienced divers seeking genuine exploration diving far from the tourist trail, Nuku Hiva offers a unique and memorable adventure.

Nuku Hiva (Marquesas)

Air Tahiti flights from Papeete to Nuku Hiva take approximately three hours. Flights may be infrequent.

Where to Stay in Nuku Hiva (Marquesas)

Accommodation Overview

Recommended Areas

Pensions

Guesthouses

Featured Hotels & Resorts

Liveaboard vessel

Hiva Oa Lodge

Pension Marohei

Pension Raivavae