Bora Bora Snorkeling Tour Motu FanFan – Swim with Sharks and Rays

Half-Day Snorkeling Tour in Bora Bora with a Motu Fanfan Finish

This four-hour snorkeling tour covers the best marine life stops in the Bora Bora lagoon and ends on Motu Fanfan, a postcard-perfect white sand islet with turquoise water on all sides and views straight across to Mount Otemanu. From $105 per person it is the most accessible snorkeling tour on the site, and the reviews suggest the guides make it one of the most memorable.

The itinerary is flexible by design. The captain reads the lagoon and adapts the route to what is active that day. Manta rays, eagle rays, stingrays, blacktip reef sharks, a coral garden, and dolphins have all appeared across different trips. The waist-deep shark stop consistently surprises guests who expect deep water and find themselves standing among sharks and rays in the shallows. That moment alone tends to make the day.

How the tour unfolds

Departure around 8:30 to 9:00am, return by 12:30pm. The route adapts to conditions and marine life on the day.

1. 01
   Pickup by boat. The boat collects you from your hotel pontoon or the nearest point on your route to Matira or Vaitape pier. Provide your accommodation name and dock access details when booking so the captain can plan the pickup.
2. 02
   Marine life stops. Multiple snorkel stops around the lagoon covering the coral garden, the shark and ray area in waist-deep water, and wherever the rays and other species are active that morning. The guide enters the water with you at each stop and points out what to look for.
3. 03
   Island circuit. Between stops the boat circles the island so you see Bora Bora from the water, including the hotels, the motus, and the lagoon from angles most visitors never see.
4. 04
   Motu Fanfan. The tour ends on Motu Fanfan, a well-known white sand beach with deckchairs, local shelters, and restrooms. Fresh tropical fruit, coconut, pineapple, mango, and grapefruit, served on the beach with bottled water before the boat returns you to your pickup point.

Fresh tropical fruit on Motu Fanfan, the final stop of the tour with views of Mount Otemanu across the lagoon

What you might see in the water

• Blacktip reef sharks and stingrays
  The waist-deep stop is one of the most surprising moments of the tour. The water is shallow enough to stand in and both species are present in numbers. Completely safe when approached calmly.
• Manta rays
  The lagoon in front of the main island has a known manta ray area. Sightings depend on conditions but are common enough that multiple reviews mention them, including one with a wingspan of nearly four metres.
• Eagle rays
  Spotted on some trips at a separate stop from the manta rays. Graceful and fast, they tend to appear in pairs gliding along the reef.
• Coral garden and reef fish
  A dedicated snorkel stop over healthy coral with parrotfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, and the occasional moray eel in the crevices.
• Dolphins
  Spotted on some trips, usually near the pass or between stops. Never guaranteed but always a highlight when they appear.

What’s included

Who is this tour for

• Anyone who wants the best value snorkeling tour in Bora Bora. From $105 per person this is the most accessible snorkeling experience on the site, and the marine life on offer is the same as tours that cost twice as much.
• Guests who want flexibility. The guide reads the lagoon and adapts the route to what is active. Reviews consistently praise this approach over rigid itineraries.
• Couples and honeymooners. Multiple reviews from honeymooners who describe the manta ray encounter and the motu stop as the highlight of their entire stay.
• Anyone staying in an Airbnb or guesthouse. Pickup works from anywhere on the island, not just hotel pontoons.

Is this tour good for families?

Yes. Children aged 5 to 11 receive an 81% discount, making this one of the most family-friendly priced tours on the site. Infants under 4 receive an 18% discount and sit on laps. The waist-deep shark stop is shallow enough for older children to stand. For younger children who are not confident in the water, the boat ride and the motu stop still work well. Browse family tours in Bora Bora for more options.

Good to know before you book

• Wear a rash guard. Four hours in the open Pacific sun is a long time. A rash guard protects your back and shoulders better than sunscreen alone and means less chemical in the water.
• Bring an underwater camera. Manta rays, eagle rays, sharks in waist-deep water, and a coral garden, this is one of the better days on the island for underwater photography.
• Minimum 4 travelers required. The tour runs when at least 4 people have booked. If the minimum is not met you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.
• Book 45 days ahead on average. Fills quickly in peak season.
• Provide your accommodation details at booking. The pickup route is planned around where guests are staying. Include whether you have direct dock access.
• Weather dependent. Cancelled in poor weather with a full refund or alternative date.
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with back problems, heart conditions, or serious medical conditions.
• Age discounts. Children 5 to 11: 81% off. Infants under 4: 18% off.