Tahiti & Moorea Escape

DAY 1 · Marina Taina (Tahiti)

Photo: Remi Jouan (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Leave 12:00 pm

Tahiti's main yacht marina, on the Punaauia lagoon south-west of Papeete, where the charter boats are based. Do the briefing here and provision at the Carrefour a short walk away, because Moorea's shops are smaller. Leave through Taapuna Pass and keep the crossing for the middle of the day, when the light is good for the far side.

• 9:00 amBriefing and provisioningAsk the base which Moorea anchorages it allows and how to book nights on escales.gov.pf.

17 NM · about 2 h 50 mto Ta'ahiamanu Anchorage (Opunohu Bay mouth, east)

Ta'ahiamanu Anchorage (Opunohu Bay mouth, east)

Photo: Balou46 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 3:30 pm

A sand shelf at the mouth of Opunohu Bay off Ta'ahiamanu public beach, with Mount Rotui straight above. Enter by Tareu Pass on its leading lights and anchor on sand you can see. Land the dinghy only at the spot the cruising association marks for visitors, keep away from the family dock, and lock the dinghy at night.

• 4:30 pmSwim at Ta'ahiamanu beachThe public beach is a short dinghy ride; it gets busy at weekends.

3 NM · about 30 mto Stingray & Shark Sandbank (Tiahura, Moorea)

DAY 2 · Stingray & Shark Sandbank (Tiahura, Moorea)

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Arrive 8:00 am · leave 9:30 am

A waist-deep sandbank inside the north-west reef where stingrays and blacktip reef sharks swim around your legs. It is Moorea's best-known lagoon encounter and an easy one for children. Go early, before the tour boats, shuffle your feet, and never feed or touch the animals.

1.5 NM · about 15 mto Tiki Underwater Exhibition (Tihoti, Papetoai)

Tiki Underwater Exhibition (Tihoti, Papetoai)

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Arrive 10:00 am · leave 11:30 am

A handful of stone tikis set in 2-3 m of clear water off Papetoai by a local artist in 1998. It is a short, unusual snorkel just west of Tareu Pass. Traffic is heavy here, so tow a surface buoy and keep fins off the coral.

2.5 NM · about 25 mto Moorea Marina (Opunohu)

Moorea Marina (Opunohu)

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Arrive 1:00 pm

A small marina near the head of Opunohu Bay with a few visitor berths and moorings and a secure dinghy dock. The inner bay is deep and muddy, so this is the easiest place to spend a night inside it; book ahead. It is also the closest start for the Opunohu Valley and the Belvedere lookout.

• 3:00 pmOpunohu Valley and Belvedere lookoutTake a taxi or walk up the valley road past the marae to the lookout over both bays.

2 NM · about 20 mto ZMR de Paopao Sud (Cook's Bay, Moorea)

DAY 3 · ZMR de Paopao Sud (Cook's Bay, Moorea)

Photo: DANIEL JULIE from Paris, France (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0

Arrive 11:30 am

The large visitor anchorage at the south end of Cook's Bay, ringed by steep peaks, with Paopao village and a supermarket at the head of the bay. Leave Opunohu by Tareu Pass and come in through Avaroa Pass, a run of about an hour outside the reef. Anchor in 15-20 m with plenty of scope, because gusts drop off the mountains.

• 2:00 pmAshore in PaopaoLand at the fishermen's marina, top up groceries and walk the waterfront.

4 NM · about 40 mto ZMR de Vaiare (Moorea)

DAY 4 · ZMR de Vaiare (Moorea)

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Arrive 11:30 am

A small anchorage on a sandbank in Vaiare Bay on Moorea's east coast, near the ferry port and a supermarket. Enter by Vaiare Pass on its leading lights, give way to the Papeete ferries, and round the shoal in good light because there are no marks inside. There is room for only a couple of boats, so book early.

1.5 NM · about 15 mto Motu Ahi Sandbank Snorkel

Motu Ahi Sandbank Snorkel

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Arrive 2:00 pm · leave 4:00 pm

A small motu south of Vaiare with calm coral gardens inside a protected marine area. Go by dinghy from the anchorage, staying inside the reef. No fishing or collecting, and watch for swimmers around the motu.

11 NM · about 1 h 50 mto Marina Taina (Tahiti)

DAY 5 · Marina Taina (Tahiti)

Photo: Remi Jouan (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Arrive 10:30 am

Back across the channel, two to three hours, to return the boat. Leave early, before the trade wind builds in the afternoon, and come in through Taapuna Pass. Allow time to refuel at the marina fuel dock and for the check-out.

• 1:00 pmAquarium snorkel by dinghyIf time allows, the coral garden and small plane wreck near the airport are a short dinghy ride north; stay out of the marked channel.