Grottes du Tahara

Grottes du Tahara — “Tahara Caves” — is a cavern dive site on the north-east coast of Tahiti, French Polynesia, near the Tahara headland. The site features a series of volcanic rock caverns and overhangs along the reef face that divers can explore.

Overview

The Tahara headland area on Tahiti’s north-east coast is characterised by volcanic geology that has created a series of sea caves and cavern openings in the reef wall. The caverns range in size from narrow swim-throughs at 10–12 metres to wider chambers extending several metres into the reef at depths down to 25 metres. All sections of the cave system remain within the open-water cavern zone — natural light is visible throughout — making this accessible to Open Water-certified divers with cavern experience. Visibility in the water column outside the caves is 25–30 metres; inside the caverns, visibility depends on torch light.

What to Expect

The cave entrances and interior walls host dense populations of glassfish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) that form shimmering clouds in the filtered light. Big-eye squirrelfish (Priacanthus hamrur) and soldierfish shelter in the darker recesses. Lobsters occupy crevices along the cave floors, and moray eels extend from wall openings. Outside the cave entrances, the reef wall hosts typical Tahiti reef life: surgeonfish, parrotfish, wrasse, and occasional grey reef sharks passing in the open water. The Tahara location receives less boat traffic than west-coast Papeete sites, giving the site a quieter, more exploratory character.

Conditions

• Best season: April–November
• Visibility: 25–30 m outside; torch-dependent inside
• Current: Generally mild; some surge near cave entrances
• Water temperature: 27–28°C
• Entry: Boat dive

Tips

Torch/dive light is essential for observing cave interior life and illuminating colour. Maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid stirring up sediment from the cave floor. Enter the caverns one at a time to avoid overcrowding. This site should not be attempted by divers unfamiliar with cavern diving — confirm natural light exits are visible before proceeding further in.

Sources: Eleuthera Tahiti Diving Center, Dive Discovery - Tahiti Diving, Tahiti Tourisme. Last updated 2026-05-30.