La Grotte de Arue
Protected Area
Pointe Vénus
Why dive here
With 135+ marine species recorded in the area - including humpback whales, sperm whales, spinner dolphins and pufferfish - La Grotte de Arue offers some of Moorea & Tahiti's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-29°C, warmest February, March, April.
La Grotte de Arue is a spot we always make time for when we’re in Tahiti, not for big pelagics, but for its quieter charm. Dropping to about 27 meters, you'll find the entrance to a small cave that dips a little further. It’s a tight squeeze in places, but nothing too challenging. Inside, it's a calm world. The light filters in, illuminating nooks and crannies where Glasseye Snapper hide, their eyes reflecting your torch beam. We always bring a good macro lens here. You can spend ages finding tiny shrimp tucked into the crevices and spotting Savigny's Brittle Stars clinging to the walls. The cave really acts as a nursery, a safe haven from the open reef. Outside, the coral reef itself is pretty healthy, with schools of Blue and Gold Fusiliers darting about. Visibility averages around 21 meters, which is plenty for appreciating the details. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light seems to hit the cave entrance just right then. It's not a dive for chasing thrills, but if you love slowing down, observing the small stuff, and getting lost in your viewfinder, you'll be happy here. It’s our pick for a relaxed, focused dive away from the faster currents of some other Tahitian sites.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Nearest Dive Centres to La Grotte de Arue
Dive shops near La Grotte de Arue
Ecole de plongée de Tahiti
Tahiti Plongee Passion
Activiseas
Eleuthera Plongée
Fluid Plongée
Dive and Sea
Reviews for La Grotte de Arue
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for La Grotte de Arue
La Grotte de Arue Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for La Grotte de Arue, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-17.58, -149.62) (1km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
27°C
81°F · Range: 26.2–28.2°C
Current Speed
15 cm/s
Direction: SW (233.1°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.048 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
36.14 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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