What is the best time to dive Reunion Island?

The best months to dive Reunion Island in France are June, November. Water temperatures range from 22°C to 29°C during peak season.

How deep is Reunion Island?

Reunion Island reaches a maximum depth of 40 m, with visibility ranging from 9–30 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Reunion Island?

Reunion Island is known for encounters with sea turtle, moray eel, lionfish, grouper, octopus, nudibranch. The site features wreck, pelagic diving across 20 named sites, with a marine life score of 59/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Reunion Island good for beginners?

Reunion Island is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 40 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Reunion Island?

A 2-tank dive at Reunion Island averages around $70 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Reunion Island Diving — Score: 58.4/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Intermediate

Reunion Island

FranceIndian Ocean

58.4

SCORE

-21.1151°N

55.5364°E

Reunion's volcanic geology creates dramatic underwater topography — lava tubes, arches, and caverns that you won't find on coral islands. The west coast's lagoon-protected reefs are the primary dive area, with healthy marine life in a marine reserve. Being a French overseas territory means European-standard dive operations.

France's Volcanic Underwater Lava Tubes

Visibility9–30 m

Temperature22–29°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$70

Best MonthsJune, November

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

59.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

59.0

Coral & reef health

32.0

Visibility & conditions

70.0

Dive site variety

43.0

Water temperature

66.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

73.0

Topside experience

64.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

60.0

Crowding

57.0

Social proof

57.0

Key species

sea turtle moray eel lionfish grouper octopus nudibranch

Dive types

wreckpelagic

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

Piton de la Fournaise active volcano hikeCirque de Mafate trekkingparagliding at Saint-LeuFrench Creole cuisinecanyoning

Nearby cultural sites

Piton de la Fournaise observatory
Kélonia sea turtle museum
Stella Matutina sugar museum

Non-diver score

9/10

Excellent for non-divers — they'll love it here.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifevibrant

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber5 km — CHU de la Réunion Hyperbaric Unit, Saint-Denis

Nearest Hospital5 km

French hospital system — excellent medical care; chamber on island; SAMU emergency response

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Corail Plongee

PADI

4.7

180 reviewsNITROX

Bleu Marine Reunion

PADI

4.6

120 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Reunion Island in France scores 58.4/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for wreck diving with 9–30m visibility and 22–29°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$70 USD. Peak season: June, November.

Last updated: 2026-05-24

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Anyone visiting Indian Ocean for the first time
+ Groups seeking 20+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You can only travel outside June, November — conditions deteriorate

Verdict

Choose Reunion Island over similar Indian Ocean destinations when operator quality matters more than coral health

How Reunion Island compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Reunion Island	58.4	9–30m	$70	wreck, pelagic
North Malé Atoll	77.1	15–40m	$130	reef, channel
Baa Atoll	74.9	12–35m	$150	reef, channel
South Ari Atoll	74.8	15–40m	$140	reef, channel
Vaavu Atoll	71.2	15–40m	$140	channel, drift

Current conditions

8/10Excellent

Waves2.44 m

Swell2.38 m

Wind1.1 km/h

Air19.4°C

Partly cloudyModerate waves (2.44m)

43d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Volcanic lava tube diving plus humpback whales. Unique Indian Ocean destination.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Shark risk is real — fatal bull shark attacks on surfers. Dive with reputable ops in organized groups.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 7°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Short dive season — only 2 months worth going (June, November). Book well ahead or miss it.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down.

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
light

lava tube caves
humpback whales
wide angle

Volcanic lava tubes formed by cooled flows. Morning into tubes at Saint-Gilles. Humpbacks Jun-Oct offshore.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

Le Sec reef
turtle encounters
reef diving

Le Sec is offshore with decent coral. Afternoon fine — west coast sheltered.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	12–20	27	Mod	Chop	Wet	65%	conditions vary
Feb	12–17	27	Mod	Chop	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Mar	12–20	27	Mod	Chop	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Apr	13–24	26	Mod	Chop	Light	65%	conditions vary
May	14–26	25	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Jun	15–28	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Jul	15–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Aug	15–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	65%	conditions vary
Sep	15–28	25	Mod	Calm	Dry	65%	conditions vary
Oct	14–26	26	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Nov	13–24	26	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Dec	12–20	27	Mod	Chop	Light	78%	conditions vary

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects49

Wide angle54

Viz stability51

Hover friendliness70

Natural light49

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Lava tube navigation
intermediate
Volcanic cave systems with unique topography.
French diving culture
foundational
CMAS system, different standards.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$2,250–$3,350

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $60–$70
Food / day: $40–$80
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,700–$5,550

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,700–$2,100
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $70–$90
Food / day: $90–$160
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$6,250–$10,050

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,500–$3,100
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $90–$120
Food / day: $180–$350
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Reunion Island Diving — France