Snorkel· Tikehau· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Motu Mauu Manta Cleaning Station (Tikehau)
15° 5.0′ S · 148° 13.3′ W
An abandoned pearl farm on a small motu about 4 km north of Tuherahera where reef mantas come in to be cleaned by wrasse in 1-10 m of water: a manta encounter you can reach by dinghy.
Practical
Mantas usually in 1-5 m on the SE side of the reef extending south from the motu, approx 15°04.951'S 148°13.334'W (Moana 2018). Day anchorage only in settled SE to NE winds: drop about 20 m SW of the stakes on the SW side of the motu at 15°04.917'S 148°13.370'W. Do NOT anchor further out on the west side: more than 10 sunken pearl floats and a web of old lines lie there, mostly deeper than 10 ft; one boat moved to the east side in 55 ft sand with no floats. Snorkelling-report gives 6-10 m at the foot of the reef with 1-2 m reefs nearby; mantas are rarer than they used to be and mornings give the best odds. Approach quietly, don't chase or touch. A 2019 cruiser found few fish and little coral.
Best for
Snorkelling with mantas in shallow water
Nearby
- Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort Anchorage (Motu Tianoa)1.9 NM away
- Tikehau Submerged Power Cable Hazard (Motu Tianoa to Motu Haamea)1.9 NM away
- Tuherahera Village Anchorage (Tikehau)2.1 NM away
- Ninamu Resort (Tikehau)2.2 NM away
- Snack Fred & Rowena (Tikehau)2.2 NM away
- Snack Ohina (Tikehau)2.2 NM away
- Tikehau Harbor Snack Bar2.2 NM away
- Tikehau Small-Boat Marina2.2 NM away