Travel Blog
What to Pack for a Lagoon Snorkel in French Polynesia
Lagoon snorkeling in French Polynesia is usually calmer and clearer than open-ocean dives — but the right packing list still makes the morning better. Whether you are boarding a Bora Bora shark and stingray snorkel cruise or paddling off a Moorea beach, pack for sun, salt, and a wet boat deck.
Many two-island packages, including our Moorea & Bora Bora budget package, already include a guided lagoon snorkel. Knowing what to bring (and what to leave in the bungalow safe) keeps the focus on the reef instead of missing gear.
Essentials most travelers should pack
- Reef-safe sunscreen — Apply before you leave the resort; reapply after you towel off.
- Rash guard or long-sleeve swim shirt — Better than constant sunscreen reapplication in the water.
- Secure wide-brim hat and polarized sunglasses — For the boat ride between snorkel stops.
- Water shoes or sandals that can get wet — Boat decks and coral rubble beaches are rarely flip-flop friendly.
- Dry bag or zip pouch — Phone, room key, and a small cash tip stay safer.
- Reusable water bottle — Hydration matters more than most first-timers expect.
Moorea honeymoon — Sofitel
- Nonstop air from LAX to Papeete
- Superior Overwater Villa at Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort
- Meet & greet lei greeting
- Round-trip ferry transfers
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
What the boat or resort usually provides
Guided lagoon tours typically include mask, snorkel, fins, and flotation belts. Resorts such as Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea and InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana often lend snorkel gear for beach use as well. If you prefer your own prescription mask, pack it — otherwise, renting or borrowing is fine for most visitors.
Maitai Polynesia — Moorea & Bora Bora
- Pre-assigned seating in main cabin
- Ferry transfer to Moorea
- Inter-island air
- 4 nights Residence Moorea Sunset Beach — Garden Suite
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
Nice-to-haves that improve the day
- Lightweight towel that dries quickly
- Underwater camera or GoPro with a wrist strap
- After-sun lotion and a change of dry shirt for the ride back
- Motion-sickness tablets if you are sensitive on small boats
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora Family Deal
- Beachview Overwater Villa
- Complimentary fourth night free
- Daily breakfast for all guests
- $300 resort credit
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
What to leave behind
Skip dangling jewelry, cotton beach cover-ups that stay soggy all day, and bulky backpacks. Valuables belong in the room safe. Soft-soled water shoes beat hard fins when you are climbing in and out of a boat repeatedly.
Three-island — Tahiti, Moorea & Bora Bora
- Ferry to Moorea · inter-island air to Bora Bora
- 4 nights Fare Oaoa Haapiti Moorea — Beachfront Bungalow with Patio
- 4 nights Westin Bora Bora — Lagoon Overwater Villa
- 2 nights InterContinental Tahiti — Ocean and Moorea Views, top floor
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
Why lagoon snorkels feel different here
Clients booking through Travelin' with Theresa consistently report that a guided drift snorkel through the lagoon reef outperforms standard deep-water excursions — calmer water, closer wildlife, and a pace that works for first-timers. That is why we include the shark and stingray lagoon snorkel on our budget two-island itinerary.
Building a Moorea + Bora Bora trip with the snorkel already priced in? Start with the 2026 Moorea & Bora Bora on a Budget package guide, then ask Theresa to match your dates.
Budget two-island — Moorea & Bora Bora
- Pre-assigned seating in main cabin
- 4 nights Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea — Garden Pool Bungalow
- 4 nights InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana — Horizon Overwater Bungalow
- Breakfast daily
View Discover Moorea & Bora Bora on a Budget (2026 Package Guide)
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
Featured — Conrad Bora Bora & Tahiti
- Airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tahiti — Economy Class
- 5 nights Pool Overwater Villa at Conrad Bora Bora Nui on Motu To'opua
- 2 nights Hilton Tahiti Preferred Ocean Room overlooking Matavai Bay
- $500 resort credit
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts
- 2 nights free included in price
- $200 resort credit
- Flights to Bora Bora from Los Angeles
- Meet & Greet with flower lei greeting
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.
Westin Bora Bora
- Pre-assigned seating in main cabin
- 6 nights Westin Bora Bora — Lagoon Overwater Villa (one night free included)
- Upgrade to Mount Otemanu Overwater Villa
- Breakfast and dinner daily
We have contracts nationwide — request a customized quote for your departure airport and travel dates.