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1/2 day Tahaa coral garden - departure Raiatea / ideal for cruise passengers

Name: 1/2 day Tahaa coral garden - departure Raiatea / ideal for cruise passengers
Brand: Te Mara Nui Plongee
SKU: 222805P4
Price: 116.40 USD
Rating: 4.5 (76 reviews)

Raiatea, French Polynesia

1 2 day Tahaa coral garden departure from Raiatea cruise line special

3 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

loan of snorkeling equipment possible on prior request (mask, snorkel)
transport by boat to Tahaa

We do not provide water shoes

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

For cruise passengers, we will meet you right in front of your boat (we have a counter upon entering the tourist office, on the left). The departure time is given as an approximation since we adapt to the arrival and departure times of your cruise ship. We just ask that you come down as soon as possible to join us, in order to leave and enjoy the lagoon as soon as possible! PLEASE NOTE in all cases, you must arrive at the latest 1/4 hour before the communicated departure time - for example maximum 8:15 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. departure or 1:15 p.m. for a 1:30 p.m.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Infants must sit on laps
Stroller accessible

Most travelers can participate
Not wheelchair accessible
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Operated by Te Mara Nui Plongee

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Barbara_L

Wonderful drift snorkel lead by our captain and guide Hubert. The area is very shallow, so you must be able to follow the guide without stopping except at spots he chooses. Not ideal if you have no snorkel experience, but fantastic for others.

Reviews

4.5

76 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 76 reviews

Great excursion

Beverley_S, Apr 2024

Great captain explained a lot of the area. They looked after people well. I was alone so they kind of took me under their wing

Highlight of my cruise

Michael_S, Apr 2024

This was simply amazing with fabulous guides. This is NOT a snorkel adventure; It is a coral float adventure. You walk up a rocky beach to the start of the channel between the islands. You then get in the water and float with the current through the most beautiful coral gardens. I have never seen anything like this. We did the float two times. If you do this, you’ll be simply amazed, but make sure that you’re comfortable in the water because you have to be able to float on the top and stay out of the Coral.

Best snorkel experience ever

Michele_C, Apr 2024

Excellent snorkeling tour. Lauren and Gony were incredibly kind. We had one of the best experiences of our lives. Mahalo.

Amazing snorkeling excursion

Jeff_B, Apr 2024

Highly recommend to anyone who loves snorkeling with fish and reefs to take this trip!! Well worth the money!

Pleasant and Fun

Jim_O, Apr 2024

A very pleasant experience, friendly guide who assisted those with the need and left those who didn't to be. Very worthwhile. Glad we went.

Fantastic

Sandra_H, Apr 2024

The best snorkeling we have done, seeing so many different fish. Definitely worth every cent 👌. Weather looked sketchy so glad we sucked it up and went.

Snorkeling trip

Jeff_W, Apr 2024

Hubert was very helpful and patient with older people. He stayed in the water with us and told us the names of each fish. No need for flippers, as slow current moves us along and it was shallow so you could stand up and rest. It rained on way back and he provided raincoats.

Stunning South Pacific

dgeorge440, Mar 2024

This trip was all we imagined and more. From booking in at reception to landing back ashore we were looked after. My wife is not too confident in the water but was encouraged to swim and see the beautiful sea life. The water was warm and the scenery was stunning. The two chaps who were our tour guides were amazing making sure we didn't miss anything. We were even provided with a snack on the way back! We would definitely do this trip again.

Must do when visiting Raiatea

Angelique_V, Mar 2024

Small group....only 12 guests and 2 guides, which was fantastic. They were very informative and provided an option for all skill levels. The spot was beautiful and we were able to see many species of fish. Would definitely recommend.

Great Snorkel excursion

Diane_J, Mar 2024

This was great snorkel experience- so close to the coral & fish - We stopped half way thru dirft for closer look at some of the fish. Be sure to wear reef/water shoes for walking across the Motu. Do not miss this when on Raiatea.

Great drift snorkel

Helen_J, Feb 2024

This is an awesome tour. It's about a 45 min boat ride, but you have nice view of island and we saw dolphins on the way. The snorkel is actually a drift snorkel which I had never done. The lead is very patient and helpful in getting through it. Current was pretty fast but it was a great experience with lots of fish. Best if you have your own equipment (but don't need fins). Definitely need swim shoes. Loved the experience!

Best snorkeling ever

Aidiliza_L, Jan 2024

Captain and assistant were very nice and make sure safety was a priority. This is the best snorkeling ever!! The coral and fishes were impressive. It is a MUST to do this excursion. At end we got to see many dolphins swiming around the boat. Super happy we had such an amazing time.

Cruise stop drift snorkel

Barbara_L, Jan 2024

Like being in an aquarium

Doug_J, Jan 2024

Excellent guide who was very knowledgeable of area and all the fish and coral. Best snorkeling we have ever done. Small group so very relaxed atmosphere.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Thank you for this nice comment

Beautiful coral garden

Donald_S, Jan 2024

The reef was beautiful. The strip to the reef was scenic. Colors are amazing. Crew took great care of us. It was a beautiful morning in the water. Lots of corals and fish.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

thank you very much for this comment

Fantastic snorkel

NICHOLAS_K, Jan 2024

Guide Hubert and mate Gurney took great care with our group Absolutely wonderful snorkel trip. Path thru coral channel filled with fish and color Best snorkel of our trip

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Thank you very much for this nice comment

You must do this tour!!!

SHARLENE_M, Dec 2023

The snorkel was amazing as was the trip to the coral garden. The guides were very friendly, informative and accommodating!!

Disappointed

Kurt_L, Nov 2023

Overall, we were very disappointed with this tour. It was beautiful, the guides were very knowledgeable, helpful, courteous, and kind, but the overall experience was very disappointing. The problem was that the current was too strong. I am an excellent swimmer and experienced snorkeler and would have felt comfortable navigating the area by myself, but my wife is not a great swimmer and there is simply no way I would have let her accompany me. The guides recognized the risk of taking the group into the current and initially decided to cut the length of ‘the float’ down and only try to navigate the lower half of the channel. When they tried that, they found that the current was still too strong so we moved down to almost the end of the channel and snorkeled along the edge of the last part. There were a few fish, and some coral, but because of the swift current there was too much sediment to make it worthwhile. In terms of a snorkeling adventure, it was a complete waste. Even with the greatly reduced length of the adventure, probably half of our group ended up with significant scrapes and cuts on their legs from the coral. Again, the guides were prepared for that and provided basic first aid. There were a number of folks in our group that had no experience snorkeling. On the way to the site the guides were sure that wouldn’t be a problem since this is a float experience and they could stay with the guides and they would be okay. That wasn’t the case due to the swift current. I understand that sometimes environmental conditions can affect the tour experience, but in this case it seems the provider would have known that conditions were hazardous and canceled the tour. And if this was genuinely a surprise to the guides, I would have appreciated an alternative option if we arrived and the conditions were not safe. All in all, I feel I paid a lot of money for a less than comfortable boat ride and an opportunity to get in the water for a very short time. It certainly wasn’t a snorkeling experience. I need to reiterate that the guides were very good, but conditions were outside of their control. Speaking of the guides, while their English was very good (but certainly not perfect), it was still sometimes difficult to hear them over the boat noise. Printed copies of their directions and information would have been helpful for some on the tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Bonjour kurt Merci pour votre commentaire, je comprend votre deception mais la meteo etait correct au depart de Raiatea et nous conaissons la force du courant au jardin de corail une fois sur place. les guides ont l'habitude de faire c drift snorkeling et c'est peut etre la 1ere fois ou il ont preferes annuler pour des questions de securité. Le snorkeling qu'ils ont proposé n'eataient pas la la hauteur de vos attentes mais encore une fois c'etait par securité. par contre il y a eu 1 ou 2 personnes avec les petites blessures sans gravite. Il y avait aussi un autre groupe qui a fait la descente et la beaucoup de blessures , comme leur bateau n'etait pas la nos guides ont aide a soigner les blessés. donner moi votre n° de reservation et je vous rembourserai une partie de votre tour Encore une fois desolée pour cette mauvaise experience je reste a votre disposition pour tout renseignement complementaire Cordialement Floriane

Great visibility

Robert_S, Nov 2023

The water is fast flowing so it pushs you along in the coral. Rash guards are suggested. You can't stop most of the time.

Drift snorkeling with PapaZoulouAdventures

Dennis_W, Oct 2023

Our guides were Tura and Roe, on Papazoulouadventures boat. They were excellent guides. Gave comments along the way. Made sure we arrived early before the crowds. Went drift snorkeling. They took very good care of us, and all the ladies. Great guides!! Highly recommend them! Thanks Tura and Roe!

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