Opunohu Bay offers a varied underwater landscape ranging from shallow lagoon sandbanks and reef flats to walls, canyons and deep drop-offs. The bay is defined by its ray encounters: the Pink Whipray is observed across nearly all sites, the Spotted Eagle Ray appears regularly, and dedicated sites such as The Rays Corridor and Lemon Shark Valley draw divers specifically for elasmobranch encounters. Reef fish life is dense, with the Pacific Bullethead Parrotfish, Moorish Idol and Orangestripe Triggerfish among the most consistently recorded species. Most sites suit beginners, though The Rose Garden reaches serious depths for more experienced divers.
Monthly water temperature across Opunohu Bay's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature stays warm year-round, with a modest peak through the early months of the year and a slight cooling from mid-year through to October. Diver activity data points to May and September as particularly productive months, suggesting calmer conditions and good visibility in those periods. The bay's sheltered lagoon character moderates conditions at most sites, though deeper walls and canyons can be more exposed.
13 operators
24 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Opunohu Bay ranges from about 27°C in July to 29°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 27–29°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Opunohu Bay year-round.
Fin maps 34 sites in Opunohu Bay (28 scuba diving sites and 10 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Opunohu Bay's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
The bay has a strong elasmobranch presence. Lemon Shark and Blacktip Reef Shark are among the signature species, and dedicated sites such as Lemon Shark Valley and Moorea Sharks Sandbank are named for these encounters. The Pink Whipray is observed across almost all sites, and the Spotted Eagle Ray appears regularly throughout the bay.
The majority of dive sites in Opunohu Bay are rated for beginners, including popular spots such as The Rays Corridor, Taotai, Stingray World and Lemon Shark Valley. A handful of sites, including The Rose Garden, reach greater depths and are better suited to intermediate or advanced divers. Beginners have a wide choice of boat-access reef dives in sheltered lagoon conditions.
Most sites in Opunohu Bay are reached by boat, and the bay is served by a good number of local operators including Moorea Deep Blue, Tahiti Shark Expeditions, Sarl Scubapiti and Alex Lagoon Tours, among others. A small number of sites, including Motu Fareone and the main Opunohu Bay site, also offer shore entry, giving some flexibility for independent divers.
The bay covers a broad range of site types. Shallow lagoon reef flats and sandbanks sit alongside vertical walls, canyon structures and drop-offs. The artificial reef elements at Papetoai and Stingray World add further variety. This mix means Opunohu Bay rewards both short, shallow dives and longer explorations at depth.
