Wildlife· Tikehau· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Motu Puarua Bird Island (Tikehau)
14° 58.4′ S · 148° 6.0′ W
Ile aux Oiseaux, a heavily forested motu in the middle of Tikehau's lagoon where brown noddies, red-footed boobies, white terns and crested terns nest, with frigatebirds wheeling overhead.
Practical
Day anchorage 14°58.425'S 148°05.959'W in 35 ft sand in the lee of the motu (Jacaranda 2016); surprisingly calm in 18 kt E-ENE, overnight possible in settled weather. Tahiti Tourisme pins the motu at 14.9738S 148.0967W. BEWARE abandoned pearl farms with submerged floats and lines on the direct route from the Garden of Eden: you only see them when directly over them. Ashore, walk quietly round the edge, stay out of nesting areas, keep away from chicks and leave no trace. Tours often add a barbecue on a pink-sand beach.
Best for
Seabird colony and empty lagoon motu
Nearby
- Garden of Eden Anchorage (Tikehau)3.1 NM away
- Garden of Eden (Motu Ohina, Tikehau)3.3 NM away
- Motu Tohuarei (Tikehau)6.7 NM away
- Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort Anchorage (Motu Tianoa)9.6 NM away
- Motu Mauu Manta Cleaning Station (Tikehau)9.7 NM away
- Tikehau Submerged Power Cable Hazard (Motu Tianoa to Motu Haamea)9.8 NM away
- Tikehau Pass Anchorage10.2 NM away
- Tuheiava Pass Dive (Tikehau)10.6 NM away