Water sports & diving costs
The most easily underestimated cost beyond the room. Below, grouped by free / snorkel / dive / cruise / upgrade, are typical price levels — the exact price is whatever the resort’s water sports / dive centre posts on arrival.
Mostly free / in the room rate
House reef / lagoon snorkeling
Mostly free, gear rental may need a depositBora Bora and Moorea lagoons generally have decent coral and tropical fish; some resorts have their own private coral garden — no extra cost to snorkel daily.
Non-motorised water sports
Mostly free, or a small depositKayaks, stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats — most resort water-sports desks lend these for free; range may be limited when the trade winds pick up (July–September).
Gym / group classes / main pool
FreeGroup classes like yoga are mostly free (private sessions cost extra); the gym and main pool have no extra charge.
Snorkelling
Lagoon shark & ray feeding
Roughly $60–100 per personBora Bora's signature lagoon excursion — a boat takes you to shallow water for close encounters with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays, usually paired with snorkeling. Suits all ages and shouldn't be skipped.
Boat snorkeling / coral garden tour
Roughly $60–130 per personA 2–4 hour boat trip to a snorkel spot beyond the house reef, often bundled with the shark & ray feeding excursion.
Humpback whale watching / swim (licensed guide required)
Roughly $150–350 per personAugust–October around Moorea is humpback whale breeding season — a licensed-guide swim is a globally rare experience, needs advance booking with limited spots, and is tightly regulated locally (no forcing proximity to the whales).
Diving
Single boat dive (certified divers)
Roughly $90–160 per dive, gear rental often extraBora Bora and Moorea both have proper dive shops; expect reef sharks and rays, with some sites known for larger pelagics (grey reef sharks, seasonal hammerheads).
Multi-dive packages
5 dives roughly $400–800, 10 dives roughly $750–1,500Packages run about 15–25% cheaper than single dives — worth it if you plan 3+ dives on the trip.
PADI discover scuba / certification
Discover scuba roughly $110–180; open-water certification roughly $500–900Most dive shops take walk-in bookings, but book a day ahead if you can; finishing theory and pool sessions at home and doing only the open-water referral dives locally saves time and money.
Cruises · excursions · watching
Sunset cruise
Roughly $70–120 per personA 1.5–2 hour evening cruise with Mount Otemanu's silhouette at sunset — one of Bora Bora's classic shots.
Private motu picnic
Roughly $100–200 per person, custom setups cost moreA boat trip to a nearby uninhabited islet for a picnic, usually with a light meal and drinks — a popular half-day outing.
4x4 jeep safari (Moorea / Tahiti)
Roughly $80–150 per personBeyond Bora Bora's water activities, Moorea and Tahiti offer jeep tours inland to pineapple plantations, viewpoints and waterfalls — a land-based experience unique to this destination.
Black pearl farm visit
Mostly free or token cost, sometimes included in resort activitiesTahitian black pearls are a local specialty; many islands have a pearl farm you can tour and shop at, no obligation to buy.
Paid upgrades / private
Motorised water sports
Roughly $40–100 per sessionJet skis, parasailing, flyboarding — charged per session or by time, not offered at every resort.
Private charter / sandbank dinner
A few hundred to over a thousand dollars, priced by boat and durationA common proposal / honeymoon splurge — book ahead through the resort's concierge and confirm exactly what's included.
A meal-inclusive rate (BB / HB / FB / all-inclusive) covers dining, not water activities. Diving, boat excursions and whale watching are almost always extra — confirm with the resort before booking.
A rough sum: how much to budget for this
A couple, 5 nights split between Bora Bora and Moorea, planning shark & ray feeding + diving + a sunset cruise
- Lagoon shark & ray feeding ×1 (two people)
- ~$120–200
- 3–4 dive package ×2 people
- ~$600–1,300
- Dive gear rental (two people)
- ~$100–250
- Sunset cruise ×1 (two people)
- ~$140–240
- Taxes and service charge
- add ~10–15% to the subtotal
Roughly $1,100–2,300 for two
A couple who just snorkel and skip the shark-feeding-style specialty activities, same rhythm, usually spend $400–800.
Practical tips
Leave enough time between your last dive and flying
Don't fly (including inter-island connections) right after diving — leave at least 12 hours after a single dive, 18–24 hours after multiple or multi-day diving. Skip diving on the last day of the trip.
Bring your dive certification and log
A cert card (physical or digital) and dive log are what dive shops check. If it's been six months to a year since your last dive, most shops require a paid refresher dive first.
Only book licensed, regulated whale-watching operators
Humpback whale swims are tightly regulated locally (group size, time in the water, and minimum distance from the whales are all set by rule) — only use officially licensed operators, and avoid anyone promising "guaranteed close contact."
Taxes may be on top of the quoted activity price
Some water-sports desks and dive shops already include tax, some don't — ask directly. Budget roughly 10–15% on top of the quote to be safe.
Book popular activities ahead, weather permitting
Book whale-watching trips and private charters ahead in high season; outdoor activities can be cancelled or rescheduled when the trade winds pick up (July–September) — don't stack your must-do item on the last day.
What can kids do
Most boat and snorkeling excursions have age or height limits for young children; shark & ray feeding is generally better suited to older kids — check with the resort's water-sports centre before booking.
Islands with a good house reef save a lot on excursions. At Browse resorts you can filter by "good house reef"; for mantas and whale sharks, first check the seasons guide before setting your travel month.