Scuba diving and snorkeling

Visibility can exceed 50 m on calm days; operators run trips for beginners and certified divers, with sites from lava caves to the famous submerged moai replica.

Discover the crystalline Easter Island waters by going scuba diving! Lack of pollution and algae makes the Easter Island ocean one of the world's clearest waters with an impressive 60 m visibility on calm days.

A PADI scuba diving license is not required, though if you have one, you will be able to go to many more sites.

Dives are done every day. There are many good diving spots around Easter Island, and even if weather is bad, there will virtually always be some place where ocean is calm.

Easter Island scuba diving photos gallery

A picture says more than a thousand words. Submerge into the underwater world of Easter Island through our fantastic selection of Easter Island scuba diving photos!

A fortunate encounter with a long-lifed green sea turtle. © Orca

Kotea Hiva is one of many colorful fish in the Easter Island ocean. © Orca

The Easter Island Spiny Lobster is unique to Rapa Nui. © Orca

Rapa Nui offers many interesting rock formations for scuba divers. © Orca

The Easter Island eel locally known as koreha has razor sharp teeth, but is luckily very shy. © Orca

Peculiar creatures can be found in the ocean, such as the balloon fish Titeve Kapovai. © Orca

Waves breaking above a fish school of the most common Rapa Nui food fish - Nanue. © Orca

The Angel Fish, locally known as Kotiti Para, is one of the smaller inhabitants of the ocean. © Orca

A camouflaged sea star is hard to spot among the rocks. © Tortuga Hanga Piko

A fish school of Marau. © Orca

Discover a new world in the Easter Island waters. © Atariki Diving Center

Scuba diving in underwater cave with flashlight. © Atariki Diving Center

Scuba diver swimming. © Atariki Diving Center

Discovering underwater caves. © Atariki Diving Center

Colorful yellow and blue Easter Island fish © Mike Rapu Diving Center

Easter Island scuba diving spots

The moai statue at the ocean bottom is one of the most popular scuba diving sites.

Hanga Roa map of Easter Island scuba diving centers.

There are several amazing spots in and around the bay of Hanga Roa where scuba diving centers go. The dive sites have coral reefs, underwater caves and cliffs and much else. The site of the dive is selected based on weather and the level of your PADI license. Some of the spots are:

Motu Nui

This historical islet is where eggs for the legendary birdman competition were fetched. This uninhabitated rock is located just off the coast of the main island of Rapa Nui, behind volcano Rano Kau. Thanks to the lack of human presence, the undisturbed marine life here is very abundant. The smooth, gray rock of the islet Motu Nui itself gives it a different look and feel compared to the rest of Rapa Nui.

A PADI scuba diving license is required for visiting this site.

Submerged moai statue

The submerged moai statue is located 20 m below the surface at the bottom of the ocean in the bay of Hanga Roa. However intriguing it would've been to claim that it is an authentic statue carved by the ancient Rapa Nui people, it isn't. The empty shell of the statue was first made for the 1990's Chilean television show Iorana. Rapa Nui diver Mike Rapu later filled the statue with cement and sunk it to the bottom of the ocean in memory of his grandfather, who had taught him about the ocean. It does make for some impressive photographs for sure!

A PADI scuba diving license is required for visiting this site.

Easter Island scuba diving centers

There are several Easter Island scuba diving centers to choose from. They are all located in the town of Hanga Roa. All Easter Island scuba diving centers follow official PADI rules and safety routines.

Every session, including preparations, typically takes around 2 hours, with an actual dive time of around 20-30 minutes.

Several operators are based around Hanga Roa’s harbour. We don’t link to individual sites here (web addresses change); ask your accommodation or compare options in person along the waterfront.

Hanga Roa has several reputable dive operators offering intro dives, certified fun dives, and courses. Water temperatures are mild year-round but a long wetsuit is normal; visibility varies with swell and season. Always dive within your certification and listen to local briefings — currents and surge can pick up quickly.

Orca Diving Centre (Rapa Nui)

Long-established Hanga Roa operator offering recreational dives for certified divers and try-dives for beginners. Typical sites include lava formations, caves, and the well-known submerged moai replica — an iconic photo spot when conditions allow.

Book ahead in high season; mention your certification level and recent dive experience.

Mike Rapu Diving Center

Named after legendary local athlete Mike Rapu, this center focuses on small groups and safety-oriented diving around the island’s volcanic underwater terrain.

Ask locally for daily schedules, nitrox availability, and any seasonal site closures.

Pacific Diving Rapa Nui

Another active Hanga Roa shop running regular two-tank mornings and tailored trips when weather allows. Good option if your dates are flexible — Pacific swells sometimes cancel offshore sites for a day or two.

Information for travelers only; operators, prices, and links change. Confirm schedules, park rules, and certifications before you book.