Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on July 20, 2023
If you are looking for a shallow and easy-to-access snorkeling spot in Moorea, Temae Lagoon, is one of the best options. The Sofitel Moorea resort is located here. Snorkeling in the lagoon’s crystal clear waters, you will discover brightly colored underwater life: clownfish, giant clams, butterflyfish, as well as healthy staghorn corals in less than 6 ft/2 meters of water.
The spot faces the Sofitel Moorea Kia Ora Beach Resort, on the northeast coast of Moorea. It is located about 2 miles/3 kilometers north of the ferry terminal and 1 mile/1.5 kilometers south of the airport. If you stay at the resort, you will have direct access to the spot. If not, you can access the snorkeling area by swimming from the Temae Public Beach.
You can enter the water anywhere from the sandy beach. As the current is usually running from north to south, it is recommended to enter the water from the northern part of the beach, which is in front of the staghorn coral patches.
The snorkeling area includes the shallow waters that faces the resort, the area with the overwater bungalows, as well as the nearby coral reefs.
Here, snorkelers can explore a good example of coral reef restoration. The construction of the bungalows has had a significant impact on the lagoon. The continuous work of coral cuttings has been carried out for several years to successfully revive the reef.
First placed on platforms, several of which are observed under the bungalows, the cuttings are then fixed on artificial concrete reefs or directly on their stilts. You’ll discover that all around the bungalows there are small coral patches teeming with life.
Within 4ft of water, it is easy to spot the orangefin clownfish in their sea anemones, not common in the lagoon, brightly colored butterflyfish, schools of blue damselfish, and orange-lined triggerfish. You will also see in some places, the Tikis and marine life sculptures which have been immersed near the reef.
Coral patches are found both north and south of the bungalows. The most notable of these two areas is the northern zone, covered with many patches of healthy staghorn coral.
You can follow pufferfish, surgeonfish, or bannerfish in the maze of the reef. You’ll also encounter schools of hundreds of green chromis swimming just below the surface.
The restaurant of Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort is open to non-guests.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
