Vavau 3-Hour Lagoon Snorkel

Vavau Adventures runs this half-day lagoon snorkelling tour in Bora Bora. The trip lasts 3 hours, costs from $118 per person and carries a 5.0 rating across 14 guest reviews. Check the details below, then open the live booking page for your dates.

Overview

This half-day trip from Vavau Adventures packs three lagoon stops into one outing on the water. A boat collects you directly from your hotel pier, then runs a circle of the island so you can watch the lagoon shift through its shades of blue between stops. Guided commentary runs in English and French.

The first stop is the reef edge, where you float above small reef sharks going about their day. Next comes the ray encounter in waist-deep water, where the rays glide in close and brush against your legs. The third stop is the Coral Garden, where clouds of convict tangs and angelfish swarm around you as you float above the coral. The trip closes with a visit to a private motu and a tasting of fresh local fruit.

Reviewers repeatedly mention attentive guides who work to include everyone, including mixed-language groups. The ray stop happens in shallow water, and mask, snorkel, towel and bottled water are all provided, so there is little to organise beyond turning up at your pier.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pier pickupA boat picks you up directly from your hotel pier, as detailed at booking.
2. Transfer (20 minutes)A transfer of about 20 minutes brings you to the start of the lagoon tour.
3. Guided lagoon tour (3 hours)The core of the trip: a circle-island run with scenic views, snorkelling above small reef sharks, a shallow-water ray encounter, the Coral Garden, and a stop on a private motu with fresh fruit.
4. Return transfer (20 minutes)A 20-minute transfer brings you back to the original point in Bora-Bora.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what tends to matter in practice on this tour, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back.

• Swimming ability. The shark and coral stops involve swimming in open water, while the ray stop happens in waist-deep shallows. Several reviewers said the guides made them feel safe the whole way.
• What is provided. Mask, snorkel, beach towel and bottled water are all included, along with the fruit tasting on the motu. That leaves you free to travel light. One reviewer noted the fruit may only appear on the full-day version, so treat it as a bonus rather than a meal.
• Wildlife surprises. The listing promises sharks, rays and reef fish, and reviewers report exactly that, sometimes more. Dolphins and manta rays have appeared en route for some groups. Sightings beyond the standard stops are luck, not a guarantee.
• Group and guides. Multiple reviews describe guides as friendly, attentive and good at including mixed-language groups. Commentary runs in English and French. One reviewer specifically praised the effort made with a group speaking three languages.
• Photos. Between the drifting tangs, the rays and the reef sharks, there is a lot worth shooting. One reviewer described floating along with the current over the coral gardens as a favourite part of the day. The listing does not mention any photo service, so plan to bring your own camera.
• Timing and sun. The tour runs about three hours on the water plus transfers, and much of that time is spent outdoors on the boat or in the water. Bottled water is provided on board. The what-to-bring list is blank, so pack for a few hours out on the water.

Common issues. The main complaint in the reviews concerns the fruit tasting: one reviewer said it was only offered on the full-day tour despite being listed, so do not book the half-day counting on it. Wildlife beyond the standard stops, such as dolphins or manta rays, is not guaranteed and depends on the day. Cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions