Wildlife· Tahuata· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Hanatefau Resident Dolphins

9° 57.7′ S · 139° 7.2′ W · approximate

A resident pod of spinner dolphins, sometimes 50-60 strong with calves learning to spin, feeds and plays around the boats in Hanatefau most mornings.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Approximate position: centre of Hanatefau Bay (OpenStreetMap bay name). Reports: two pods in December 2018; nearly every morning in May 2019 with up to 50-60 dolphins, thinning out by mid-June; still resident in May 2022. Watch from the boat or drift quietly; do not chase or jump in on top of them. The 2026 brief names the bay as a place to preserve in its natural state.

Best for

Dolphin watching from the cockpit

Nearby