Small-Group Snorkel, Drinks Included

This 3.5-hour outing pairs a small group with boat pickup, so the boat fills with a handful of guests rather than a crowd. SARL H2O Bora Bora runs it. From $128 per person, rated 5 across 18 reviews.

Overview

This is a 3.5-hour boat trip around Bora Bora's lagoon, run by SARL H2O Bora Bora, that stops at three or four snorkel spots in a single morning or afternoon. The crew targets the animals rather than a fixed route: one site for manta rays, one for eagle rays, and a natural coral garden, with turtles, dolphins, reef sharks and moray eels also possible along the way. You get roughly 20 to 30 minutes in the water at each stop, and between stops the boat cruises slowly so you can take in the island from the water.

The group is capped at a handful of people, which is the main draw. Travellers repeatedly describe boats of five, six or seven guests, with the guide getting in the water when the boat can be safely attached and staying close while people swim. Pickup is by boat from your hotel dock or a designated meeting point, with departure set somewhere in a morning window you are given beforehand.

Gear, towels, water and soft drinks are all provided, so you can show up with little more than swimwear. The tour is offered in English and French, and the small group size means more time at each stop than a larger excursion would allow.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Boat pickupThe crew collects you from the dock of your hotel or a designated meeting point. Departure falls between 8:00 and 8:50, and you are told the exact time beforehand.
2. Cruise to first spotA leisurely boat ride across the lagoon toward the first snorkel site, with views of the island along the way.
3. Snorkel stopsThe itinerary is not always the same but always includes a site where you can hope to see manta rays, a natural coral garden, and a site where eagle rays can be seen. You spend at least 20 to 30 minutes in the water at each stop, with the guide alongside when the boat can be safely attached.
4. Between-stop cruisingLeisurely cruises between the snorkel spots, with time to take in the scenery around the island.
5. Cruise backA final cruise across the lagoon back toward your pickup point. The full tour runs 3.5 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this trip before you book.

• What is provided. Snorkeling equipment, towels, water and soft drinks are all included, along with an experienced guide and hotel pickup. Meals and alcoholic drinks are not, so eat before you go.
• Swimming comfort. You will be in open water at every stop for at least 20 to 30 minutes each time. The guide accompanies the group in the water whenever the boat can be safely attached, and reviewers said the crew stayed close and kept everyone safe.
• Group feel. Groups run to no more than 6 or 7 people, sometimes 8 at most. Reviewers described boats of five and seven and called the size perfect.
• Bring little. The boats have dry storage space for your belongings and cover in case of bad weather. Luggage and large bags are not allowed, so keep what you carry to a small bag.
• Wildlife is wild. The listing is clear that sightings cannot be guaranteed and the route shifts with weather and where the animals are. In practice reviewers saw manta rays, eagle rays, reef sharks, stingrays and even dolphins, but the mix varies day to day.
• Start time. Pickup and departure happen between 8:00 and 8:50, and you are informed of the exact slot beforehand. The pickup point itself is arranged at booking.

Common issues. Meals and alcoholic drinks are excluded, so budget for food separately. Wildlife sightings, including manta rays, cannot be guaranteed since the animals are wild. The itinerary changes with weather and animal locations, and one reviewer found the coral garden crowded and the start slow on a windy day. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on board.

Frequently Asked Questions