The Needles

Best months: Feb–Apr

Protected Area

Hanga Oteo

Why dive here

With 32+ marine species recorded in the area - including bull sharks, humpback whales and pufferfish - The Needles offers some of Easter Island (Rapa Nui)'s richest pinnacle diving. Water ranges 21-26°C, warmest February, March, April.

Best timeFeb–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit

Marine lifeBull Sharks, Humpback Whales and Pufferfish · 32+ species recorded

Water21-26°C · warmest February, March, April

CharacterPinnacle dive · max 5-20m

StandoutDramatic pinnacle topography

The Needles on Rapa Nui, they're exactly what they sound like – volcanic spires punching up from a sandy seabed. We love a site with a memorable topography, and these deliver. You drop in and immediately feel that unique Pacific current, but it’s generally gentle here, perfect for beginner divers. We've seen visibility pushing past 60 metres, a truly staggering amount of clear blue water that makes the Needles feel like they're floating. Our favourite part is gliding through the gaps between the rock columns, watching the sunlight dapple the sand below. Look for the endemic Big long-nosed Butterflyfish flitting about, or a Banded thicklip cruising by. Keep an eye out for Speckled morays peeking from crevices. It’s a shallower dive, mostly 5-20 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to really explore the nooks and crannies. This is our pick for a relaxing, beautiful dive where the scenery above the surface is just as dramatic as below.