Level: Resort nearby
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2 spots added - 36 photos shared
Last updated on May 22, 2023
Surrounded by a lagoon, only 2km from Tahiti airport, the InterContinental is one of the island’s most famous resorts. There, you can snorkel around the overwater bungalows, on a small nearby coral reef, but also in the “lagoonarium”, an artificial lagoon where many colorful fish swim around branching coral.
The InterContinental Resort Tahiti is located in Faa’a, just south of the international airport runways. From Papeete city center, allow around ten minutes by car (a few minutes from Tahiti Faa’a terminal) to reach the hotel.
There is no natural beach in the resort, but you can get in the water from the shore or from the overwater bungalows.
3 distinct areas can be snorkeled at InterContinental (see map above):
1/ Around and below the motu’s water bungalows (↕3-6ft/1-2m). A great diversity of tropical fish is found here, such as parrotfish, bannerfish, tang and triggerfish. The two small outings of the Lagoonarium (where the artificial lagoon communicates with the ocean, see map) are loaded with fish.
2/ The small coral reef which extends about 50m off the water bungalows.
It is a pleasant area to discover the Polynesian reef life, even if the corals are damaged in places. Stay on the inner reef, as many boats use the pass to enter Punaauia Marina.
3/ The Lagoonarium, the name given to the artificial lagoon that stretches between the motu and the hotel’s main swimming pool.
This very shallow and very calm area (↕3-4ft/1-1.5m) is a kind of open-air aquarium, where coral cutting projects are carried out. The water is less clear than on the ocean side, but you can still see many fish, fed by the hotel several times a day.
Be careful not to confuse the InterContinental Lagoonarium with Moorea’s Lagoonarium.
The InterContinental Resort has several bars and restaurants, also 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.
