Les 3 Pitons - Moorea & Tahiti

Northern Arch is quintessential Poor Knights. We love this site for its sheer drama, an enormous cut through the island that often funnels current, bringing in the bigger stuff. Dropping into the sun-dappled entrance, you're immediately hit with the scale of the place. The walls are encrusted with sponges, a painter's palette of orange and purple against the dark rock. Look up, and schools of blue maomao swirl overhead, so thick they almost blot out the light filtering down. We've seen kingfish here that make you question your depth perception, cruising through with a casual power, particularly in summer. Black stingrays often settle on the sandy bottom inside the arch, sometimes joined by the occasional eagle ray gliding past. The arch itself bottoms out around 25m, but the northern side just keeps sloping away, hinting at deeper adventures if you’re equipped for it. We always suggest keeping an eye out into the blue beyond the arch; that’s where the real surprises often show up. It’s a site for divers who appreciate a grand stage and aren’t afraid of a bit of movement in the water, offering those unforgettable moments where the ocean truly feels wild.

Location
Moorea & Tahiti, French Polynesia, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
-17.630200, -149.618800
Type
cave

Marine Protected Area: Grottes de Maraa

Best Time to Dive in Moorea & Tahiti

The warmest water temperatures in Moorea & Tahiti occur in April, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 26.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.2°C
  • February: 28.5°C
  • March: 28.9°C
  • April: 29.0°C
  • May: 28.4°C
  • June: 27.6°C
  • July: 26.7°C
  • August: 26.4°C
  • September: 26.3°C
  • October: 26.6°C
  • November: 27.2°C
  • December: 27.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Moorea & Tahiti

Nearest Dive Centres to Les 3 Pitons

Marine Life in Moorea & Tahiti

Home to 141 recorded species including 116 reef fish, 7 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sea cucumbers, 2 whales & dolphins, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Les 3 Pitons

Based on average water temperature of 27.6°C, currents 8 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