SOCIETY ISLANDS: TAHITI, MOOREA AND THE LEEWARD ISLANDS (RAIATEA, TAHA'A, HUAHINE, BORA BORA)

Tahiti & Raiatea: boating safety

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Tahiti (Papeete and Marina Taina) is French Polynesia's arrival and provisioning hub, while Raiatea is the main bareboat charter base for the Leeward Islands. Charters typically cruise the shared Raiatea–Taha'a lagoon, Huahine and Bora Bora.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA
Call 16
Call JRCC Tahiti on 16. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

French Polynesia: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

The harbour master's office (Capitainerie) of the Port autonome de Papeete is reached on VHF 12, tel. 40 47 48 82.

Port autonome de Papeete ▾
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “Capitainerie du Port autonome de Papeete Tél. : 40 47 48 82 – VHF : 12”

Marina Taina (Punaauia, Tahiti) works on VHF channel 9; Marina Apooiti (north Raiatea, near Uturoa) on channel 12. Both are listed by the Port autonome de Papeete.

Port autonome de Papeete · Port autonome de Papeete ▾
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “officemarinataina@gmail.com Canal 9 40410224”
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “marinaapooiti@gmail.com canal 12 40661220”

Weather

Météo-France Polynésie publishes a marine forecast bulletin by zone, including zone C45 (Tahiti – West Tuamotu) and zone C50 (Leeward Islands: Maiao, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti), with wind, sea state and swell.

Météo-France Polynésie française · Météo-France Polynésie française ▾
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “Zone C50 , Iles sous le vent / Maiao - Huahine - Raiatea - Maupiti”
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “Zone C45 , Tahiti - Ouest Tuamotu / Tahiti - Fakarava - Anaa”

Local rules

Off Faa'a and Punaauia (Tahiti west coast, around Marina Taina and Motu Tahiri) boats may only stay on a proper mooring in zones P0, P1, P3, P4 and P5; anchoring on your own anchor is strictly forbidden there, and mooring or anchoring anywhere else (including zone P6 and Vairai) is prohibited. Offenders face fines and removal of the boat at their own cost.

Port autonome de Papeete · Port autonome de Papeete ▾
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “Le mouillage et le stationnement des navires ne sont autorisés que sur une installation d’ancrage appropriée (corps-mort) uniquement dans les zones suivantes”
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “Le mouillage sur ancre y est strictement interdit.”

Hazards

The tropical cyclone season in the south-west Pacific runs from November to April, peaking January to March. Météo-France Polynésie issues cyclone pre-alerts and orange, red and purple cyclone alerts.

Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi) · Météo-France Polynésie française ▾
met.gov.fj (2026-10-14): “The TC season in the southwest Pacific extend from November to April, with the peak TC activities normally experienced from January to March.”
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “Pré-alerte cyclonique en cours”

Hospital and medical

The Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie française (CHPF, Pirae, Tahiti) runs a 24-hour emergency department and a hyperbaric chamber that treats divers' decompression accidents.

Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie française · Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie française ▾
chpf.pf (2026-10-14): “Le service assure une permanence 24 H / 24 H”
chpf.pf (2026-10-14): “Le Caisson Hyperbare : Unité de soins en oxygénothérapie hyperbare où sont traités les : – accidents de décompression chez les plongeurs sous-marins”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Tahiti & Raiatea?

Call JRCC Tahiti on 16. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

How do I contact the harbour in Tahiti & Raiatea?

The harbour master's office (Capitainerie) of the Port autonome de Papeete is reached on VHF 12, tel. 40 47 48 82.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Tahiti & Raiatea?

Météo-France Polynésie publishes a marine forecast bulletin by zone, including zone C45 (Tahiti – West Tuamotu) and zone C50 (Leeward Islands: Maiao, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti), with wind, sea state and swell.

Read before you sail

Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doCold water shock and hypothermia: what to doPerson overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerChartering in French Polynesia: licence & rules

Nearby destinations

Vava'u TongaFiji — Port Denarau FijiBay of Islands New ZealandAuckland and the Hauraki Gulf New ZealandMarlborough Sounds New ZealandPort Vila VanuatuNouméa New CaledoniaGold Coast / Moreton Bay Australia

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