Dive· Ua Huka· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Bird Islands Manta Dive (Teuaua and Hemeni, Ua Huka)

8° 57.3′ S · 139° 35.9′ W · approximate

The two seabird islets off Ua Huka's SW corner are the one documented dive spot around Ua Pou and Ua Huka: manta rays feed here, with turtles and sharks also reported. Expedition ships put guests in the water with mantas right off the islets.

Tuamotus Marquesas

Practical

Coordinate approximate: offset about 0.4 nm west of the OpenStreetMap islet outlines (see the Bird Islands wildlife entry), towards the smaller awash rocks at the western end where Jacaranda (Oct 2015) sailed into 25-30 manta rays feeding on the surface. No dive operator works Ua Pou or Ua Huka. Tahiti Tourisme lists only Marquises Diving (Hiva Oa) and Nuku Hiva Diving Center and Nuku Dive (both Taiohae, Nuku Hiva), and none of them advertises trips here, so this is for self-sufficient divers with their own gear and full tanks. No air fill is documented on either island. Lindblad's National Geographic Orion (May 2023) dove with mantas 'right off Bird Island'. A Y.CO charter itinerary describes manta, turtle and shark encounters around Teuaua and Hemeni. Both islets are a no-fishing area (fine 179,000 XPF, 2020 rules), and landing on them is not part of any cruiser report. Open to the south-east trade swell, so dive only in calm conditions with someone on the boat; current and surge round the rocks are unreported, so check them before going in. Easiest from the Haavei Bay anchorage, about a mile north.

Bird Islands Manta Dive (Teuaua and Hemeni, Ua Huka)

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby