Snorkeling & Lagoon Tours in Bora Bora

Best Bora Bora snorkeling spots

Bora Bora's lagoon is big, and the snorkeling varies a lot from one side to the other. These are the spots that come up again and again in Air Tahiti Nui's guide, dive center listings and tour itineraries:

• The Aquarium (Coral Garden): a natural coral garden in the southern lagoon, off the south end of Motu Piti Aau. Coral heads sit on sand in roughly 8–15 feet of water, with dense schools of sergeant majors, butterflyfish and surgeonfish. It's a standard stop on many lagoon tours, so it can be busy, and snorkel reports describe the coral as only in average condition.
• Motu Toopua: on the southwest side, home to the Conrad. A coral garden with hundreds of reef fish, and spotted eagle rays in the inner lagoon nearby.
• Anau: on the east side of the lagoon. A coral garden with unusual variety, and manta rays at the drop-off.
• Motu Tapu: south of Teavanui Pass. The currents bring in a high density of fish, so go with a guide who knows the conditions.
• Matira Beach: the island's only public beach, at the southern tip. Tahiti Tourisme calls it an ideal spot for snorkeling, and you can wade in with no boat needed. There's a picnic park right next to it.

One area is now closed. The Popora Rāhui, a strict nature reserve created on the reef south of Matira in late 2025, bans motorboats, fishing and water activities. If you kayak or paddle out from Matira, stay out of it.

Bora Bora lagoon tour: private vs shared

Shared tours are the budget choice, from about $120 per person for a half day. You'll join other guests on a set route, typically with a coral stop, a shark and ray stop and photo stops with Mount Otemanu behind you. Morning and afternoon departures are common, with pickup from hotels or docks.

Private tours are priced per boat, so they get better value the more people you bring. They let you choose the stops, linger where the fish are best and skip the crowds at the Aquarium. Full-day private trips can add lunch on a sandbank or motu, with poisson cru (raw fish in coconut milk). As an example of the range, one Vaitape operator listed on Tahiti Tourisme prices its shared and private tours from 12,000 to 80,000 XPF (about $115–760) for 2026.

Whichever you pick, choose an operator that doesn't feed the animals. Feeding is illegal in French Polynesia. Our shark and ray encounters page explains why.

Other Bora Bora excursions on the water

• Sunset catamaran: from about $200 per person. See the Sunset Catamaran Cruise.
• Scuba: an intro dive needs no experience, and the manta site at Anau is a highlight. Read our scuba diving guide.
• Whale watching: July to November (peak August–October), with licensed operators, from about $200. In-water swims have been limited to groups of six since January 2025.
• Jet ski and parasailing: covered on our water sports page.