Anchorage· Rangiroa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Blue Lagoon (Rangiroa)
15° 5.7′ S · 147° 55.4′ W
Le Lagon Bleu, a reef-ringed lagoon-within-the-lagoon between motus Tereia and Taeoo on Rangiroa's far west rim, knee-deep turquoise water over pink-and-white sand and a nursery for dozens of baby blacktip reef sharks.
Practical
Big-boat anchorage outside the reef at 15°05.657'S 147°55.378'W (Asolare 2016; Slipaway 2011 gives 15°05.64'S 147°55.37'W), mostly coral with some sand, so float your chain. About 18 nm across the lagoon from the Kia Ora anchorage; cross only in good light with a bow lookout. The anchorage is open to the east: even 10 kt of trade wind makes it uncomfortable, so treat it as a day stop unless the forecast is calm. Dinghy in by following the tour launches (they arrive about 10am and leave about 2pm), so go early for solitude. Tour operators feed the sharks inside and outside the reef. Tahiti Tourisme lists the site as a Nature Reserve: no fishing, no feeding by visitors, do not stand on coral.
Best for
Wading with baby blacktip sharks in gin-clear shallows
Season
Calm or very light winds only; untenable in fresh E trades
Nearby
- West Lagoon Sand Anchorage (Blue Lagoon approach, Rangiroa)0.8 NM away
- Northwest Lagoon Anchorage (15°01.6'S, Rangiroa)5.2 NM away
- Garden of Eden (Motu Ohina, Tikehau)9.3 NM away
- Garden of Eden Anchorage (Tikehau)9.4 NM away
- Motu Puarua Bird Island (Tikehau)12.5 NM away
- Motu Tohuarei (Tikehau)14 NM away
- Ile aux Recifs (Reef Island, Rangiroa)14.9 NM away
- Motu Fama Anchorage (Rangiroa)15.1 NM away