reef

Log This Dive

La Zélée, Tahiti

We’ve always found Zélée a surprisingly poignant dive. It’s not a huge wreck, more a collection of scattered pieces near Papeete’s port, but the history of this old French gunboat, sunk in 1914, really grounds you. You drop down, and it's like stepping into a slow-motion reclamation project – corals, particularly those rose-shaped colonies we love, are busy encrusting everything. Visibility generally holds around 20 metres, so you get good views of the details. Look for the sleeping reef sharks often tucked under larger sections and the constant stream of lagoon fish, including schools of parrotfish and those busy saddleback butterflyfish, darting in and out. It’s an easy, reflective dive, perfect for a relaxed afternoon after exploring Papeete. We'd suggest going mid-morning when boat traffic is lighter and the light filters through nicely.