Povai Bay (also spelled Pofai) cuts into the western coast of Bora Bora's main island south of Vaitape, forming a sheltered crescent that offers calmer swimming than the more exposed eastern coast. The bay is partly enclosed by the collapsed wall of an ancient volcanic crater, and from the water the views up to the flanks of Otemanu are among the best on the island.
The bay's waterfront holds several of Bora Bora's better-known restaurants and bars, including the legendary Bloody Mary's. The western exposure means afternoon light falls beautifully across the lagoon, and the cluster of establishments along the bay road makes this the closest thing Bora Bora has to an evening strip. Budget travellers and locals frequent the bay in the early morning for fishing; by late afternoon it belongs to the restaurant crowd. The snorkelling is decent off the rocky points on either side of the crescent.