The 10 Best Water Sports in the Pacific Islands

1.River Tubing Fiji, Navua River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 815 reviews · from $93Our pick

Ride a longboat through Fiji’s Navua River gorge, visit a village and plantation, swim beneath a waterfall, enjoy a riverside lunch, then tube through gentle rapids. Guides such as Ben, Patrick, Nick, and Nem are known for keeping groups safe and entertained. Pickup is available, though Nadi transfers can make this a very long day.

“the river guides really take of you... they seem happy doing their job and want you to have a great experience!”

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2.Sea Scooter Jet Snorkeling “Moorea Dream Adventure”

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 461 reviews · from $174

Start near the Sofitel at 8:00 a.m. and learn to use an easy sea scooter before visiting three Moorea snorkeling sites. Guides such as Nicolas, Sébastien, and Nico lead small groups toward coral gardens, turtles, rays, reef sharks, and colorful fish. Equipment, refreshments, and optional hotel transfers are included.

“The sea scooters were fun and easy to manage. Great way to see the underwater world! Beautiful fish and coral, great locations. Highly recommended. Guide was very knowledgeable and personable.”

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3.Ariki Adventures: Premium Sea Scooter Turtle Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 455 reviews · from $112

Join Ariki Adventures in Rarotonga for a two-hour sea scooter snorkel focused on turtles and reef life. You’ll receive safety instruction, use provided masks, snorkels, fins, and scooter, then head into the turtles’ natural habitat with guides watching the group. Five percent of each fee supports the Cook Islands Sea Turtle Conservation Society.

“Excellent operators very respectful of the environment and the wildlife not like some other operators we seen. Our group was ratio 8/3 and continually check to see if you were okay. The current was fairly strong and made it so much more enjoyable with the sea scooter highly recommend.”

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4.Eco Friendly Sea Scooter Turtle Tour in Rarotonga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 345 reviews · from $111

At Moana Sea Scooters, you spend about 90 minutes with a small group of 4 to 6, learning to use an eco-friendly sea scooter before swimming beside turtles, spotted eagle rays, and schools of fish. Dan and his team guide you through the Avaavaroa passage, provide gear, snacks, a coconut drink, and send high-resolution photos after the tour.

“Well worth every cent. The crew were very friendly and professional. The photos we received from our experience were amazing. A perfect way to start a day”

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5.River Tubing Fiji / Suva Shore Excursion Cruise Ship Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · from $90Best value

From Pacific Harbour, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the Navua River, then head upstream by longboat. The day includes a Namosi Highlands village visit, a waterfall swim, riverside lunch, and a guided inner-tube ride through gentle rapids. Guides such as Rosie, Douggy, Nick, and Winnie are praised for safety and care.

“Had a wonderful tour with great crew. Had some long boat rides, hiking, toured a village and tubing a river. All of it was great!”

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6.Sea Scooter Jet snorkeling “Moorea Reef Adventure”

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · from $112

At 2 p.m., join a group of no more than seven for a two-hour sea scooter trip from Moorea’s Lagoonarium area. Guides such as Nicolas, Sebastian, Leo, and Terry provide instruction, equipment, and marine-life pointers while you visit two reef sites. Hotel pickup may be included, and the tour suits beginners, though you should feel comfortable in open water.

“Description does not mention you must know how to swim and you will be wearing a wetsuit, which is supplied if you don't have one. It's a great experience, floating around and over the coral, but your hands get tired holding on to the scooter handles. Those with wrist pain or carpal tunnel should take that into consideration.”

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7.Bora Bora Underwater Scooter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews

You ride a two-person underwater scooter about 10 feet below Bora Bora’s lagoon surface, breathing normally beneath a clear dome. Guides such as Rémi, Ben, Clem, and Nunu lead the 30-minute sea-floor visit, point out coral and fish, and help nervous riders. Hotel pickup, boat transport, gear, and snacks are included.

“This was one of the best tours, I've ever encountered. The gentlemen were not only entertaining, but informative. The ability to view fish in its natural habitat was remarkable. I highly recommend this tour...highlight of our trip thus far,”

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8.River Tubing Adventure with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 1 day · from $130

Travel by longboat into Fiji’s Namosi Highlands, stopping at a remote village, jungle plantation, and waterfall before lunch by the river. Then float down the Navua River through gentle rapids. Guides such as Ben, Cookie, Roseline, and Winnie lead the day in English, with transport, tubes, lifejackets, and lunch included.

“Amazing Patrick was an awesome guide Thanks for a great day”

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9.Sea Scooter Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 3h 30m · from $167

Spend 210 minutes exploring Moorea’s lagoons by eco-friendly sea scooter, with English or French guides such as Niko, Nico, Thierry, and a boat captain who knows the local waters. Small groups of up to seven visit coral gardens and ray areas, with turtles, sharks, fish, and sometimes dolphins along the way.

“A novel snorkelling experience using a sea scooter made it so easy to glide along and see the fish and coral. There are 3 different stops on the tour the last one being the close encounter with the friendly rays. We also were lucky enough to see a small pod of dolphins. All the crew were really helpful and we were in a small group of 6 people. Definitely worth doing if you have the chance.”

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10.Sea Scooter Snorkel Tour – Lagoon Discovery : Wrecks, Coral Gardens and Tropical Fishies

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · from $109

From Tahiti Marina Taina, Sylvain, Jeremy, and the ATAE team take you by boat to the calm Aquarium lagoon near Punaauia. You will use an easy underwater scooter to visit wrecks, coral gardens, and tropical fish sites, with fins, mask, snorkel, snacks, drinks, and photos included.

“We loved this experience. The tour operator called us early to go out because a whale was seen in the harbor. It was exciting to see then we spent a Few hours snorkeling in beautiful blue water surrounded by fish. My only complainant is that they didn’t take very many photos of us, it would have been great to have more.”

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