Anchorage· Fakarava· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

South Pass North-Side Anchorage (Fakarava)

16° 30.3′ S · 145° 27.3′ W

The legal anchoring area on the north-east side of the south pass, the 'Tetamanu' zone. It is a bommie-studded shelf where you set the hook in a sand patch and float the chain, with the pass dives a few hundred metres away.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Sugar Shack (March 2022) anchored in a sandy patch in 12 m at 16°30.331'S 145°27.276'W. With many bommies around, they put a float at 20 m of chain and another every 10 m, with the bridle on at 60 m. A breezy spot with internet. Soggy Paws (2010) called it deep and corally, recommended only in settled weather. Official zone 'Tetamanu': 10 boats, 48 hours. The decree's coordinate table for this zone repeats the Hirifa figures (a printing error); its annex chart shows the zone along the shore north-east of the Papahonu large-yacht point (16°30.15'S 145°27.39'W). Do not drift west: the area west and south-west of the pass is a no-anchoring zone. Zone rules (Arrete 414 CM of 28 March 2024): overnight stays (4 pm to 9 am) must be pre-booked at escales.gov.pf (or escales.dpam@administration.gov.pf, DPAM +689 40 54 45 78, 24/7); the service was free in the 2025 pilot and the 2025 brief says fees will be charged in 2026. Boats under 20 m may use zone spaces between 9 am and 4 pm without booking, within the quota. Inside zones: 5 kn speed limit, no sailing (motor in and out), no scuba, windsurfing or towed sports, swimming and snorkeling only close to your own boat, show anchor lights from sunset to sunrise, keep AIS on if you carry it. No sewage discharge, hull work, antifouling, sanding or engine testing at anchor. Anchoring outside the five designated zones, or in channels and passes, is a 4th-class offence. Permanent moorings are planned for 2026; once a zone has referenced moorings, anchoring in it becomes illegal.

Best for

When the moorings are taken

Season

Settled E-NE trades

Nearby