Moorea & Tahiti, French Polynesia
    Pointe Vénus

    La Grotte de Arue

    Best months: Apr–Aug

    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.

    Best timeApr–Aug
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeHumpback Whales, Sperm Whales, Spinner Dolphins and Pufferfish · 135+ species recorded
    Water27-29°C · warmest February, March, April
    CharacterWreck dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    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.

    Today05:3417:5812h 24m daylightGolden hour 17:29

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    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)

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    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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