Snorkel· Raroia· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Raroia Pass Drift Snorkel
16° 1.0′ S · 142° 27.2′ W
Drifting Garue Pass on the incoming tide: clear water, a reef that falls from 10 ft to 2,000 ft outside, thousands of fish including red snapper and emperor triggerfish, and dozens of blacktip and whitetip reef sharks.
Practical
Coordinate is Jacaranda's 'inside the pass' waypoint (Soggy Paws). Errantries (May 2015) made 8-9 drifts out and back before slack, then the current reversed and ran out to sea. Dinghy-drift holding the painter, at slack or on the flood only. The north-of-pass anchorages (16°00.45S / 142°26.70W) are the closest base. Ciguatera: ask locals before eating reef fish.
Best for
Exhilarating shark-and-fish drift
Nearby
- Raroia Sand Bar Anchorage (North of Pass)0.7 NM away
- Garumaoa Village Anchorage (Raroia)1.3 NM away
- Raroia Community Garden and Eggs1.5 NM away
- Raroia Fuel (ship and pearl farm)1.5 NM away
- Raroia Gendarmerie and Post Office1.5 NM away
- Raroia Lagoon Rules: Reserve and Educational Marine Area1.5 NM away
- Raroia Magasin (Gerard and Raya)1.5 NM away
- Raroia Public Water Point1.5 NM away