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Lagoon Snorkeling: Small Group Island Adventure
5.0
11 Ratings
Uturoa
Dive into Raiatea Tahaa’s coral gardens with a small group tour. Enjoy personalized snorkeling adventures with expert guidance and premium inclusions.
Dive into Raiatea Tahaa’s coral gardens with a small group tour. Enjoy personalized snorkeling adventures with expert guidance and premium inclusions.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Jardin de Corail - Explore Tahaa’s renowned Coral Garden, a breathtaking drift snorkel site in French Polynesia, nestled within a pristine lagoon. Departing from Raiatea provides a chance to admire the lagoon’s beauty during a peaceful boat journey to Tahaa, known as the “Vanilla Island,” with stunning views of Bora Bora in the distance. After…
- Jardin de Corail - Explore Tahaa’s renowned Coral Garden, a breathtaking drift snorkel site in French Polynesia, nestled within a pristine lagoon. Departing from Raiatea provides a chance to admire the lagoon’s beauty during a peaceful boat journey to Tahaa, known as the “Vanilla Island,” with stunning views of Bora Bora in the distance. After approximately 30 minutes, the journey reaches the Coral Garden on the motu of Tautau. Before entering the water, snorkeling gear, water shoes, and a brief orientation by Tearii, the captain and certified snorkeling guide, are provided. The gentle current ensures this snorkeling adventure is accessible and enjoyable for everyone. As the current guides you, swim in a natural aquarium, gliding over vibrant coral formations and observing abundant marine life and schools of colorful fish. It’s a truly unforgettable experience! After snorkeling, unwind on the beach or aboard with fresh tropical fruits and cold drinks.
- Tahaa - On the return to Raiatea, there is a stop at another stunning location, amidst shallow turquoise waters, where you can safely swim with black-tip reef sharks in their natural environment. Swimming with them is both exhilarating and calming, offering a final chance to connect with the lagoon’s wildlife.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Snacks
- Private transportation
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Snacks
Additional Information
This excursion is tailored for cruise passengers who have just a few hours to spend on the stunning islands, but it’s also perfect for anyone eager to discover the lagoon’s treasures on a half-day small group tour with a welcoming atmosphere. A customized program can be arranged upon request for groups of 8 people. Please contact us when making your…
This excursion is tailored for cruise passengers who have just a few hours to spend on the stunning islands, but it’s also perfect for anyone eager to discover the lagoon’s treasures on a half-day small group tour with a welcoming atmosphere. A customized program can be arranged upon request for groups of 8 people. Please contact us when making your reservation.
In contrast to larger group excursions, this small-group experience, limited to a maximum of 8 passengers, provides a more personal, attentive, and enjoyable environment.
Tearii, your certified local snorkeling guide and captain, will accompany you in the water to ensure your safety, comfort, and confidence at all times - you will never be left alone.
With two snorkeling locations, premium inclusions, and a schedule tailored to cruise ship arrivals with guaranteed on-time return, we are committed to providing authentic and unforgettable experiences. We will take excellent care of you and assure you that you won’t regret it!
Location
Tourism Office
Please meet us directly at the Blue Green Experience desk located inside the Uturoa Ferry terminal (next to the Tourism Office), across from your cruise ship dock. Our departure times are approximate as we adapt to your ship's schedule. Kindly confirm with us and check in 15 min prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(11 Ratings)
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Carla_m
May 10, 2026
Snorkelling in an aquarium! - Best snorkeling trip I have done, drifting very unique than the usual, and swimming with reef sharks.
Amazing
Review provided by Viator
Mocampion
May 7, 2026
A great snorkelling experience - We booked this tour as a last minute decision just a couple of hours before it left. We were so pleased we did!! We loved it so much that we have booked to go again when we return to Raiatea a couple of weeks later.
The boat is very comfortable with some shade. The company is small and run by a husband and wife team. Sara makes the bookings and Tia operates the boat. They are both really pleasant and helpful and go out of their way to ensure a positive experience. On our trip the first couple who booked wanted to visit a vanilla farm so that was thrown in as an additional experience. We were the 3rd couple to book (they take 8 as a maximum but there were only 6 of us on our trip) and we were made aware of this extra at the time of booking. But we still had the full trip to the sharks and coral gardens at no extra cost.
I loved the whole trip. We saw loads of sharks at the first stop and the coral gardens were beautiful - so many different colourful fish with the bonus of a couple of stingrays cruising the reef. My husband also spotted a moray eel and then an eagle ray just after we returned to the boat.
Refreshments in the form of water, juice, coconut bread, bananas and doughnuts were provided after the snorkelling.
Tip - don’t bother taking fins as you can’t use them on the shallow reef and don’t need them with the sharks. But DO take water shoes with decent soles! I made the mistake of wearing socks which I usually wear with my fins but then struggled when walking on sharp stones getting to the beginning of the drift snorkel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q337imchristyh
May 6, 2026
Definitely book with this company! Great experience! - Our captain Tea was great!! I highly recommend booking with him! I had read reviews on the coral gardens booked through different companies and didn’t know what to except. People were talking about not knowing where to go and getting scratched by the coral. Tea made sure he was in the water leading the way so that wouldn’t happen.
He also took us to see the sharks. We chose not to snorkel with them but it was really cool to see. He told us that if we wanted to snorkel with them, he always gets in first to check the temperament of them. Safety first.
I was on a cruise through Windstar. This was less expensive, very personable/less crowded, he took us to 2 places instead of 1, and the meeting place was right by our boat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cindydz1563nk
May 1, 2026
An Unforgettable Day on the Water! - We had the absolute pleasure of spending the day with Blue Green Experience while visiting Raiatea. It was one of the highlights of our entire trip. Our guide, Tea, is the owner of the company, and his passion for the ocean and his home waters was evident from the moment we set out.
The day began with swimming alongside blacktip reef sharks — an exhilarating experience that I might have been nervous about, but Tea's clear knowledge of the sharks' behavior and his attention to safety put me completely at ease. He explained everything we needed to know beforehand and kept a watchful eye throughout, so I felt confident and secure the entire time.
We then headed out for a drift snorkel through the famous Coral Garden, and it was nothing short of spectacular. Tea seemed to know every inch of the reef — exactly where the most vibrant coral could be found and where the fish liked to gather. He even had a knack for drawing the fish in close, turning the snorkel into an immersive, up-close encounter with the marine life. The colors and variety were unbelievable.
Tea is a phenomenal guide: knowledgeable, personable, safety-conscious, and clearly devoted to sharing the beauty of Raiatea's waters with his guests. If you're visiting the island and want an authentic, well-run, and truly memorable ocean adventure, do yourself a favor and book with Blue Green Experience. Highly, highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anthony_m
Apr 29, 2026
Suspended animation, state of bliss - This tour was absolutely incredible. The shark encounter was unforgettable, and the coral garden drift was one of the most beautiful experiences we’ve ever had. Floating with the current through the coral felt like being inside an aquarium. Our guide made the entire day exceptional — knowledgeable, patient, and always making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. We even realized afterward that we had left something on the boat, and he went out of his way to help us retrieve it. Truly above‑and‑beyond service. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Wanda_p
Apr 29, 2026
A trip to The Coral Garden - It was the most amazing tour with the best team of professionals that I have had the pleasure to go on an excursion with. I did not ask (my bad) the young lady at the desk but she was absolutely fantastic! Then we boarded the boat for our tour and Taa (sure hope that's how his name is spelled) was so gracious and helpful from start to finish!! Would recommend this tour 10000%!! Grateful for this kind young man who assisted this old lady (lol) throughout our excursion!!❤️❤️
Review provided by Viator
Traveler15378087292
Apr 29, 2026
Amazing snorkeling day in Heaven - What an amazing day and snorkeling excursion in the coral garden. The guide and captain was excellent and got us there safely. He guided us through the coral garden and we saw so many amazing fish. Also, took us to see sharks on the way back. What an amazing day and one of our favorite excursions on this whole cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
Apr 5, 2026
Great snorkel tour! Highly recommend!! - Booked this 1/2 day afternoon tour the day before. Excellent communication and quick responses from Sarah.
Had a wonderful day snorkling with the sharks and drift snorkling the Coral Gardens. The water is crystal clear with lots of tropical fish. Comfortable boat, beautiful views and reef. Tea is a friendly captain/guide that made sure we were safe. We had some newbie snorklers in our group. Excellent afternoon tour with pickup right from the cruise pier and returned in time.
Highly recommend this company!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Atlass_13
Mar 24, 2026
Drift snorkeling in coral gardens with amazing guide - We happened to find Tea at the visitor center after we disembarked from our cruise ship for the day. He offered us an amazing tour/snorkeling of some coral gardens. It was a beautiful spot and we had it all to ourselves. Tea was so kind and shared many stories and insights of Polynesian islands and culture. He offered local food/snacks at the end which was delicious and perfect after snorkeling. It was an amazing day and one of the highlights from our trip. Highly recommend Tea and this excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_m
Mar 7, 2026
Tearii and Blue Green Experience at Coral Gardens - A MUST!!! - This was one of the BEST things we have ever done! My wife and I have been to many parts of the world, enjoying many greats sites and experiences. This tour with Blue Green Experience was amazing - one of the best things EVER! Tearii was our captain and guide. He is wonderful. He provided extra time at the Coral Gardens, longer than the other boats visiting that day. After the Coral Gardens tour, Tearii even stopped at another location for us see a group of sharks. It was incredibly cool that he did that! It was a day we will never forget. I very strongly recommend this tour with this operator. You will be very glad you did it!
Review provided by Viator