Dive· Katiu· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Pakata Pass Drift Dive (Katiu)
16° 20.6′ S · 144° 21.2′ W · approximate
An unguided, for-the-experienced drift through Katiu's narrow village pass, where the fish parks sit for good reason: the current carries a lot of fish life.
Practical
Approximate: Hitianau village and Pakata Pass are on Katiu's north rim; position derived as for the other Katiu village entries (Soggy Paws pass longitude 144°21'W, north-rim latitude near the airport). Confirm on satellite imagery. There is no dive center on Katiu (the commune lists no tourism businesses in 2024), so this is a self-guided dinghy drift for experienced divers with their own gear. Current: almost always outgoing in normal 10-15 kt easterlies, with slack only from about 2 hours before high water until high water (Eastern Stream, March 2021); the ebb can reach 6 kt with 4 m standing waves at the outer entrance (True Blue, 2013). Dive only in that slack-to-high window, starting from the outer half and drifting in toward the supply-ship jetty, with a dinghy tender following the divers' buoy. Never dive into the narrow, coral-lined inner channel on an ebb. Keep away from the fish parks near the pass (French Wikipedia) and from the jetty when the ship (Cobia 3, Nuku Hau or SXMS 3) is due. Nearest recompression is in Papeete.
Best for
Self-sufficient divers at the high-water slack
Nearby
- Hitianau Church (Katiu)0.1 NM away
- Katiu Pass Jetty (Pakata Pass)0.1 NM away
- Katiu Pass Snorkel0.1 NM away
- Katiu Post Office and Health Post0.1 NM away
- Katiu Village Magasins and Snacks0.1 NM away
- Katiu Village Anchorage (Hitianau)0.4 NM away
- Hitianau to Airport Road Walk (Katiu)1.5 NM away
- Katiu Airport (KXU)2.9 NM away