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Accommodation nearby

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Many travel guides mention the Coral Garden (Le Jardin de Corail) as one of Huahine’s best shore snorkeling locations. Despite this enchanting name, the spot is fairly sparse in coral, but you can encounter a diversity of marine species such as Giant clams, Orangefin anemonefish, butterflyfish, and moray eels.

Huahine Lagoon
The Coral Garden and the Lagoon seen from the shore.

How to get to Huahine’s Coral Garden snorkeling spot?

The Coral Garden is located on the beach of Huahine’s former Sofitel, now demolished. From Fare, take the main road north. After about 4.5 miles/7 kilometers, cross the bridge on the left, from which you can see Maeva’s fish traps.

After the bridge, take the first right and continue to the end of the road. You can park your car or scooter at Motukootu Snacking.

Coral Garden Huahine snorkeling map
Huahine’s Coral Garden snorkeling map.

Water entrance for snorkeling Huahine’s Coral Garden

You can enter the water from the beach, at the snack bar.

Huahine’s Coral Garden snorkeling exploration tips

Huahine’s Coral Garden is located on the edge of the pass that separates the main island from Motu Mahare. Water from the lagoon flows from the barrier reef and enters the pass that runs alongside the island to the south, generating a fairly strong current on the spot.

Orangefin anemonefish in Huahine
The Orangefin anemonefish, the only clownfish found in French Polynesia, is a common sighting at the Coral Garden.

The current flows from left to right as you face the ocean. You can snorkel throughout the coral garden but head back towards the beach as soon as you reach the sandy areas.

On the Coral Garden, the seabed is covered with coral heads (↕3 to 6 ft/1 to 3 m). The strong current has prevented the development of spectacular corals, and we mainly see massive porous coral, in which many giant clams and sea urchins nest.

Giant clam and moray eel in Huahine
A tiny Snowflake moray noted next to a Clam.

Orangefin clownfish are very easy to spot at this location. You’ll find them in the sea anemones found here and there on the reefs. Small moray eels can be spotted in the crevices.

Other common marine species at the Coral Garden include Clown coris, whose juveniles can be recognized by their two orange eye-spots, Guineafowl puffer, and Double-saddle butterflyfish.

Yellow guineafowl puffer in Huahine
A Guineafowl puffer in its yellow coloration at the Coral Garden.

Restaurants and accommodations nearby

Snack Motukootu is located near the beach.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth10 feet/3 meters
  • Water entranceEasy, from a sandy beach
  • Potential DangersStrong current
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree from the shore
  • Restaurants nearbyYes, on the beach

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

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.