Snorkel· Hiva Oa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Hanaiapa-Hanatekuua Point Snorkel (Hiva Oa)
9° 42.1′ S · 138° 59.7′ W · approximate
The best-reported snorkelling on Hiva Oa's north coast is around the rocky point east of Hanatekuua, the beach cove next door to Hanaiapa: sand patches among coral in clear water, a short dinghy ride or a 30-45 minute goat-trail walk from Hanaiapa village.
Practical
Position is a cruiser's anchor spot in Hanatekuua (09°42.105'S 138°59.657'W, 30 ft in sand patches among coral, June 2022); the snorkel is 'around the point to the east' of it, so treat the coordinate as approximate. Hanaiapa itself: the 2026 brief marks no snorkel site inside Hanaiapa Bay; its chart shows fringing reef along the west shore near Pointe Tahataha and Îlot Fatutue, and coral heads lie at the head of the bay, so snorkel those edges only in calm water. Getting there: dinghy about 1.5 nm east from the Hanaiapa ZMR (09°42.9'S 139°01.0'W) in settled weather, or walk the 30-45 minute trail over the ridge (2026 brief: ask a local to guide you or follow the goat trail). Hanatekuua is outside the 2026 ZMR list, so do not anchor a yacht there overnight; come from Hanaiapa. Exposed to NE swell, and Hanaiapa is a surf spot in the northern-summer swell season.
Best for
North-coast coral within reach of the Hanaiapa anchorage
Season
Calm SE trades (May-Oct); avoid in N-NE swell