The sea temperature at Bora Bora today is 25.9 °C (79 °F) – refreshing to pleasantly warm water, ideal for most people. The usual October average is 27.2 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is around 26 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 27 °C to 25.9 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 26 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.1°C / 82.6°F | 28.5°C / 83.2°F | 29.0°C / 84.2°F |
| February | 28.2°C / 82.8°F | 28.8°C / 83.8°F | 29.2°C / 84.6°F |
| March | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.2°C / 84.6°F | 29.8°C / 85.7°F |
| April | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.1°C / 84.4°F | 29.6°C / 85.2°F |
| May | 28.4°C / 83.0°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 28.9°C / 84.0°F |
| June | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F |
| July | 27.1°C / 80.8°F | 27.4°C / 81.2°F | 27.5°C / 81.6°F |
| August | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 27.3°C / 81.2°F |
| September | 26.5°C / 79.8°F | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.4°C / 81.2°F |
| October | 27.0°C / 80.5°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 27.4°C / 81.4°F |
| November | 27.4°C / 81.2°F | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 27.9°C / 82.2°F |
| December | 27.9°C / 82.2°F | 28.2°C / 82.8°F | 28.4°C / 83.1°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.4°C / 79.4°F | 26.6°C / 79.8°F | 26.6°C / 80.0°F |
| February | 26.5°C / 79.8°F | 26.8°C / 80.3°F | 27.0°C / 80.7°F |
| March | 26.8°C / 80.3°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 27.5°C / 81.4°F |
| April | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 27.1°C / 80.8°F |
| May | 26.6°C / 79.9°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.1°C / 80.7°F |
| June | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F |
| July | 25.4°C / 77.6°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F |
| August | 25.1°C / 77.1°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.4°C / 77.7°F |
| September | 25.0°C / 77.0°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.4°C / 77.6°F |
| October | 25.3°C / 77.6°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F |
| November | 25.5°C / 77.9°F | 25.7°C / 78.3°F | 25.8°C / 78.5°F |
| December | 26.1°C / 78.9°F | 26.4°C / 79.4°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Bora Bora holidays
Rising from a wide lagoon about 260 km north-west of Tahiti, the small volcanic island of Bora Bora belongs to the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia. The twin peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia rise from its centre, and the lagoon, enclosed by a barrier reef and a ring of low sandy islets called motu, surrounds the main island.
Beaches
Matira, at the southern tip of Bora Bora, is the main public beach: soft white sand and shallow water that stays knee-deep far into the lagoon, good for children and snorkelling. Most other beaches belong to the resorts on the motu, reached only by boat. Inside the reef the lagoon of Bora Bora is calm, with coral gardens a short swim from shore. The sea temperature on this page is measured in the lagoon off Motu Piti Aau, on the east side of the island.
Things to do
Lagoon tours around Bora Bora stop to snorkel with stingrays and blacktip reef sharks, visit coral gardens and end with a picnic on a motu. Jeep tours climb the inland tracks to US gun emplacements left from the Second World War and to viewpoints over the lagoon. The summit of Otemanu cannot be climbed, but guided hikes go up Mount Pahia. Dive centres take divers to manta ray sites in the lagoon. Vaitape, the main village, has the quay, a few shops and craft stalls selling black pearls.
Weather and best time to visit
At Bora Bora the sea stays above 26 °C / 79 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Bora Bora is warm all year. The drier season runs from about May to October, with trade winds and less humidity. From November to April it is hotter and wetter, with heavy tropical showers, and tropical cyclones are possible in French Polynesia in this season.
Hotels and where to stay
Bora Bora is known for resorts with overwater bungalows, most of them on the motu along the eastern reef, with views of Otemanu across the lagoon. The main island has smaller hotels, family-run guesthouses and a few resorts around Matira, closer to restaurants and the road; boats link the motu resorts with Vaitape for an evening in town.
Signature hotels: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort (Motu Ome'e) · InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort (Matira Point)
Airport and getting there
Bora Bora Airport (BOB) is on Motu Mute, a motu on the northern edge of the lagoon. Flights from Faa'a International Airport (PPT) on Tahiti take about 50 minutes, and some routes stop at other islands on the way. From the airport, resorts collect their guests by boat, and Air Tahiti passengers can take the airport shuttle boat to Vaitape on the main island, included in the fare.