Dive· Rangiroa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
La Marche (Hammerhead Dive, Tiputa Pass)
14° 58.0′ S · 147° 37.4′ W · approximate
A deep, advanced dive that starts in open ocean at the mouth of Tiputa Pass at 45-55 m, hunting great hammerheads and big schools of spotted eagle rays before drifting into the lagoon.
Practical
Approx: dive operators do not publish GPS for individual sites. Placed by reckoning from the Tiputa Pass ocean-mouth waypoint (Noonsite, 14.96683S 147.6245W) and the Tahiti Heritage pass centre (14.97062S 147.62797W), using the pass dimensions Tahiti Heritage gives (400 m wide, 900 m long) and the operator's description of where the dive runs. Placed just seaward of the pass mouth. Experienced divers only, 45-55 m (6 Passengers dive centre), so it needs deep certification and usually Nitrox planning with the operator. Run January to March in the great hammerhead season; Wikipedia notes large numbers of rays gather in the pass in January and attract hammerheads. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Best for
Great hammerheads in the austral summer
Season
Jan-Mar
Nearby
- L'Angle (Tiputa Pass corner)0.1 NM away
- La Grotte aux Requins (Shark Cave Dive, Tiputa Pass)0.1 NM away
- La Traversee (Pass Crossing Dive, Tiputa)0.1 NM away
- Les Canyons (Tiputa Pass)0.2 NM away
- L'Eolienne (Tiputa outer reef)0.3 NM away
- Le Bleu (Tiputa blue-water dive)0.3 NM away
- Motu Nohi Nohi Beginner Dive (Tiputa Pass)0.4 NM away
- Tiputa Pass Dolphin Watching Point (Tiputa)0.4 NM away