Tikehau is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, ringed by pink-sand motus and famous for a single navigable pass, Tuheiava, that funnels grey reef and silvertip sharks past divers, plus a shallow manta cleaning station inside its exceptionally fish-rich lagoon.
Destination info
Conditions, highlights, and the resident marine life.
Conditions
Water and air temperature across the year.
WaterAirDryShoulderWet
Description
Tikehau ('Peaceful Landing' in Tuamotuan) is a near-circular coral atoll in the Palliser Islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, about 340 km northeast of Tahiti, its 461 km² lagoon enclosed by a ring of motus and pink-coral-sand beaches with a resident population of only around 500. On a 1987 expedition, Jacques Cousteau's research group studied the lagoon and concluded it held a greater variety of fish than anywhere else in French Polynesia—Cousteau is widely quoted describing the surrounding sea as one of the richest in fish in the world. Diving centres on Tuheiava Pass, the atoll's only navigable channel on the western shore, where a drift dive on the incoming current delivers grey reef, silvertip, blacktip and whitetip sharks, schooling barracuda and jacks, Napoleon wrasse and turtles, with seasonal great hammerheads and the occasional tiger shark. Inside the lagoon, a shallow manta cleaning station (the 'Old Pearl Farm') lets divers and even snorkellers watch reef mantas hover over cleaner wrasse. Water is a warm 26–29°C year-round and the pass is comparatively shallow and gentle, so calmer lagoon and coral-garden sites suit a broad range of experience levels.
Highlights
What makes this dive worth the trip.
On a 1987 expedition, Jacques Cousteau's research group studied Tikehau's lagoon and concluded it contains a greater variety of fish species than any other place in French Polynesia; Cousteau is widely quoted describing the surrounding sea as one of the richest in fish in the world.
Tikehau has a single navigable pass, Tuheiava, on the western shore—the only channel between lagoon and open ocean—which local operators call the most fish-rich dive in Polynesia, with grey reef, silvertip, blacktip and whitetip sharks plus schooling barracuda and jacks on the drift.
A shallow manta cleaning station inside the lagoon (the 'Old Pearl Farm') sits in roughly 6 m of water where reef mantas, sometimes up to 5 m across, hover over cleaner wrasse; it is gentle enough for both divers and snorkellers and accessible to all experience levels.
Marine life
26 species you’re likely to encounter on a dive here.
Dive sites
6 signature sites at this destination.
Tuheiava Pass
The atoll's only navigable channel, on the western shore, and the signature dive of Tikehau. Operators run it as a drift on the incoming current, which is comparatively shallow and gentle for a Tuamotu pass. The flow concentrates grey reef, silvertip, blacktip and whitetip sharks along the walls, with schooling barracuda and jacks, Napoleon wrasse, longface emperors and turtles. Great hammerheads and the occasional tiger shark turn up seasonally. Dives are scheduled around tidal analysis to catch the inflowing water.
5–40 mintermediateDay boatModerateVisibility 20–40 m
Manta Cleaning Station (Old Pearl Farm)
A shallow site inside the lagoon, near a former pearl farm, where a sandy bottom dotted with coral heads forms a reliable cleaning station for reef mantas. The animals hover almost motionless while cleaner wrasse service them, allowing close, calm observation. At roughly 6 m and with little current, it is suitable for all experience levels and is one of the few manta cleaning stations that can be enjoyed by snorkellers as well as divers. Early morning is the optimal window.
1–15 mbeginnerDay boatLightVisibility 10–25 m
La Poito (The Buoy)
A site at the mouth of Tuheiava Pass, named for a mooring buoy, dived across a wide depth range. The exterior reef and pass mouth attract Napoleon wrasse, wild trevally and massive schools of jacks and barracuda. Eagle rays and reef mantas cruise through, and at dusk the local 'tapete' (grey) sharks become more active. Currents range from outgoing flow to calmer conditions, making it accessible to a range of levels depending on the tide.
3–40 mintermediateDay boatModerateVisibility 20–40 m
Shark Hole (Le Trou aux Requins)
A vertical passage in the outer reef that opens onto a 60-plus-metre drop-off, known as a nursery and gathering point for grey reef sharks. Walls of grey sharks patrol the blue alongside snapper schools and dogtooth tuna, with squirrelfish, anemones and clownfish in the recesses. Depths and the open-ocean exposure make this the most demanding site at Tikehau, reserved for advanced and deep-certified divers.
6–50 madvancedDay boatModerateVisibility 25–40 m
Aramuramu (Ramu Ramu)
The most distant of the pass-area sites, set among canyon formations in the outer reef with exceptional visibility. The terrain of swim-throughs and channels shelters grey reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks and a wide range of reef species, and dolphins are sometimes encountered in the open water nearby. Depths are moderate and the canyons make it an engaging dive for most certified levels.
1–40 mintermediateDay boatModerateVisibility 25–40 m
Teonai
A reef-slope and drop-off site on the Tuheiava Pass complex, typically dived on an outgoing-water profile down a gradual descent. The slope holds lionfish, moray eels and a variety of reef fish, with eagle rays and blacktip reef sharks patrolling the deeper water; turtles and barracuda are also regular. The gentle topography makes it a good intermediate dive away from the strongest pass flow.
6–40 mintermediateDay boatModerateVisibility 20–35 m
Where to dive & stay
Local dive centers, resorts, and hotels.
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