SNORKELING
      French Polynesia's waters are perhaps best suited for snorkeling more than any other recreational activity. Various access points on the island of Tahiti can yield surprisingly good snorkeling opportunities, provided you're not walking through someone's private property to get there.
    The best spots are often in front of a hotel waterfront or beach pension, or in places you will need to be shown by a local. Ask around... It's also possible to find good snorkeling along the roadside on the Tahiti-Iti peninsula. The best way to find these spots is to rent a car and experiment. Just get wet and get snorkin'!
    Most hotels offer snorkeling equipment for their guests, however TST recommends bringing your own gear.
      

TST Comment: SNORKELING         There are many places on Tahiti to obtain "adequate" snorkeling equipment, but WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND BRINGING YOUR OWN! The reason for this is because of the sad CONDITION of most equipment...       Althought it's true almost all the hotels, pensions or beach huts nearby a good snorkeling spot will happily rent or lend you equipment, it's very possible that little or none of it will work or fit! The mask will leak or be too small, the fins will hurt, and the snorkels can be cheap, or tired...     For the low price of a decent new mask, fins, and snorkel, combined with relatively low space needed to carry them with you, we feel the clear waters and freedom of being able to just break out your own gear is well worth the effort!

WINDSURFING
     Most tourists and travelers who have never been to Tahiti tend to believe windsurfing is a really big activity on Tahiti. Surely, they think, the chrystal blue waters and strong tradewinds would make for world class windsurfing possibilities? Sadly, for all you windsurfing enthusiasts out there, the truth of the matter is it's hardly to be found at all...
      Although some locals are quite active in the sport, you will rarely encounter a place that rents them out to visitors. This is the same situation on the other smaller islands too. The main reason for this is twofold: 1) All the Tahitian islands have numerous, strong, and unpredictable currents inside their lagoons as well as the open ocean.
2) There are a lot of beginners and non-experienced people thinking that windsurfing is easy to do and would be a great way to spend the day...
True enough... BUT- apparently it's the COMBINATION of beginners learning how to ride and the unpredictable currents that make for a recipe most hotels and businesses don't want to deal with. High insurance rates and potential lawsuits make it problematic to the point that it's not worth it. Many hotels USED to rent boards and sails in their past, but have slowly fazed out windsurfing as a rental activity.
     
     If anybody out there finds a good rental windsurfing place on Tahiti, TST wants to know about it! Please share the knowledge in an email, and we'll publish.
     
      IF YOU KNOW HOW TO WINDSURF, and have your own equipment, don't let any of the above information stop you from bringing your setup... The overall conditions are excellent, (Although the winds are sometimes unreliable certain times of the year), and if you know where to find them, you'll see locals ripping it up on any day of the week and loving it. Talk to the local surfshops when you arrive to find out the best spots to go for it!

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SURFING
       Based on its history, Tahiti's surfing can only be described as legendary. It's historically acceptable that the first people to ride waves on wooden planks were Polynesians. Hawaiians will argue that it was them who first invented the surfboard, New Zealanders will tell you the same using a different set of facts. Tahitians have their own stories... Either way, we know that all these islands share common "surfing ancestry" to one another... with the overall point being: the Polynesians know how to surf and have been doing so for a long time!
    As with all Polynesian islands, the best surfing areas are at the "passes", or open ocean entryways into the lagoon. This is where a wave can achieve some size as it avoids the coral barriers defending the lagoon.

     Tahiti has several well known surfing areas at different points on the island.
East, (or North Coast) prime spots are: Papenoo break at PK 17, just west of the village of Papenoo.
West, (or South Coast) hot areas include: Paea break at PK 21, Papara Black Sand beach at PK 36, Punaauia and Taapuna passes, and the awesome Teahupoo on the Tahiti-Iti peninsula!
Closest to Papeete are a few breaks around Arue and Point Venus. Of course, these are just a few of the break locations and beaches from which to start.. To be able to fully understand and know the waves of Tahiti takes years of experience of knowing each break and it's nuances, complete with knowing the best times of the year to surf them.
     Although there are quite a few amazing surfers on Tahiti, finding them isn't always easy. Besides for the listings below, the best way to meet locals is to just start "talking surf" to people who have barrels in their eyes. Go into the many surfshops of Papeete, and meet "dudes" looking for replacement gear... Hang out at the bars or the pool halls. Also, hit the surf competitions if you notice them advertised anywhere. Although the surfers can be a bit protective of their breaks, the overall attitude is pretty laid back on Tahiti.

         We'll be attempting to keep building on this surfing section of TST as time goes by, but for now, this is what we offer:   Surf shops are listed in the "To do/ shopping & services" section of Papeete.com.


    If you're planning on visiting Tahiti and surfing, here's a few surf friendly lodging choices:

HITI MOANA VILLA (FH)

Get Coupon Now !

PK 32, Papara -Tahiti, PO. Box 10 865, Paea- TAHITI
Telephone- (689) 57.93.93, Fax- (689) 57.94.44
Contact: Mr. Steve BROTHERSON      E-MAIL & RESERVATIONS
Accept Mastercard, and Visa

TSTN EZ Print Internet Coupon Participant. The coupon saves 10% on lodging!

SURF FRIENDLY LODGING ON TAHITI! 4 Mid- range bungalows on lagoon side, next to Papara and Paea surf breaks and golf course. Minimum stay: 2 nights. Lounge, TV, private equipped kitchen, bathroom (hot water), terrace, fan, laundry service, private pontoon, swimming pool, House linens furnished. Round trip transfers are available for a nominal fee.


We are a favorite place to stay among surfing enthusiasts. Let us show you the hot spots to surf on Tahiti!
SEE OUR DIRECT LINKING WEBSITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS!

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CHEZ-ARMELLE (PF)
P.K. 15.5, cote mer- BP. 380 640, Tamanu-98718, Punaauia-TAHITI
Telephone-(689)58.42.43, Fax-(689)58.42.81, Cell (689)77.79.99
Contact: Mr. Raimana RIVIERE       E-MAIL & RESERVATIONS

Eight rooms w/ private bathrooms/ showers (hot water), fans, TV & refrigerators. Communal lounge/ terrace and snack bar overlooking the sea where we serve lunch/ dinners on request and a complimentary breakfast every morning!
Round trip transfers available for a nominal fee. Accept Visa and Mastercards

SURF FRIENDLY LODGING ON TAHITI! One of the nicest beach locations on Tahiti!
Our location is perfect for surfers... we're 400 meters from SAPINUS SURF SPOT (reef), and 30 km From PAPARA SURF SPOT (break), and 6 km from TAAPUNA SURF SPOT.

SEE OUR DIRECT LINKING WEBSITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS and PLEASE MENTION TAHITI SUN TRAVEL ON YOUR BOOKING!

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SWIMMING (OCEAN)
...coming soon with information and details.

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SAILING
    

Sailing is so popular in and around Tahiti that we put together a seperate page for all the information. Along with private boat charters of the area, our sailing section will explain it all! Go there now!

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WATERSKIING
...coming soon with information and details.

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KITEBOARDING (FLYSURFING)
    
      This is the hottest sport to hit any beach in years! It's called kitesurfing, kiteboarding, or Flysurfing to the French and it's absolutely WILD!
     
      Tahiti is the most reliable island in French Polynesia for winds and solid kiting conditions and also has the largest amount of kiters there.

     Check out our special KiteTahiti website for all the info...

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