The interannual variability of the five dominant coral reef communities of the French Polynesia seascape (algae, corals, echinoderms, molluscs and fishes) was studied from 1990 to 1994 in the Tiahura sector of Moorea Island. Qualitative (species richness) and quantitative (cover percentage or density, depending on the type of community) stability is shown for benthic communities (algae, corals, echinoderms and molluscs), except for the macroalgae group and for bivalve species Tridacna maxima. In contrast, the fish community shows in its abundance a significant interannual variability characterized by a recruitment peak in 1991 and gradual and stochastic changes of densities for a few species. The bleaching events (in 1991 and 1994) and the cyclone Wasa (December 1991) had no notable negative impact on the five communities, except for species Tridacna maxima. Comparisons with surveys conducted in the Tiahura sector from 1971 to 1990 suggest that this coral reef ecosystem, as organized at present, is especially robust in the face of natural disturbances.