Fafapiti - Bora Bora
Look, we're not going to lie. Kauri Mountain Awarua Rocks isn't the Poor Knights' showstopper. It doesn’t have the archways or the deep, dark caves. What it does have, however, is a classic slice of New Zealand’s rocky coastline underwater, and sometimes that's exactly what you want. It's a short jaunt from Dive Now if you're keen for a shore entry down Kauri Mountain Road. The maximum depth sits at about 11 metres, making it a great spot for a relaxed potter. We've spent hours here just watching the smaller stuff. The kelp sways, and in among the holdfasts, you’ll spot at least three kinds of triplefins – the Yellow-and-black, Longfinned, and those tiny Spotted Robust ones. We often see rig and dory ghosting through, and if you’re lucky, a black stingray or even a sleepy leopard seal might be tucked away. Visibility averages 13 metres, so it’s usually clear enough to appreciate the encrusting life that carpets the rocks. It's a proper kiwi kelpy dive, perfect for photographers who love macro or anyone who just wants to chill out and explore without the pressure of a big-name site.
- Location
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -16.469900, -151.740800
Marine Protected Area: Motu Tapu
Best Time to Dive in Bora Bora
The warmest water temperatures in Bora Bora occur in April, averaging 29.3°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.4°C
- February: 28.6°C
- March: 29.3°C
- April: 29.3°C
- May: 28.9°C
- June: 28.1°C
- July: 27.2°C
- August: 26.9°C
- September: 26.8°C
- October: 27.2°C
- November: 27.8°C
- December: 28.1°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Bora Bora
- Anau (cenote)
- Anau
- Aquarium (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Avapeihi pass (drift)
- Cite corail (reef)
- Coral Garden (reef)
- Eagle-rays station
- Eleuthera Bora Diving Center
- Haapiti (wall)
- Iriru
- L'Aquarium
- Le Nordby (wreck)
- Les rairas
- Les Roses
Nearest Dive Centres to Fafapiti
Marine Life in Bora Bora
Home to 141 recorded species including 121 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 hard corals, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sharks & rays, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Reef Fish
- Flea Cone (Conus pulicarius) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Dot and dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Toby (Canthigaster solandri) - Reef Fish
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Brilliant Red Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) - Reef Fish
- Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) - Reef Fish
- Giant Squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
Recommended Packing List for Fafapiti
Based on average water temperature of 28.0°C, currents 6 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories