Seasonal· Hiva Oa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Southern Marquesas Weather and Swell
9° 48.2′ S · 139° 1.8′ W · approximate
The southern Marquesas have no reef: every bay is open to swell, trade winds bend and accelerate around the high islands, and conditions in the anchorages change with the season.
Practical
Position is nominal (Tahauku). 2026 brief: tidal range 1-1.5 m; trades from the SE in the austral winter and the NE in summer, deflected by terrain; significant swells create strong currents, especially between Hiva Oa and Tahuata; navigation aids are limited; landing can be hard, so carry dry bags. Tsunami warning: move at least 2 nm offshore. Cruisers report katabatic gusts to 40-50 kn in Vaitahu and Hanavave in strong trades, and gusts up to 3 times the mean wind when rounding points. Southerly swell makes Tahauku untenable. NE winds and north swell (roughly November-March) make Puamau and the north coast rolly. The Marquesas lie north of the usual cyclone tracks. Cruisers have spent the cyclone season here (Noonsite 2003), and MMS bills itself as the only French Polynesian yard outside the cyclone zone. Ciguatera has risen in recent years: a blue trevally poisoned a crew in Tahuata, and several cases were reported in 2019, so ask locals before eating reef fish.
Best for
Planning around swell and wind
Season
SE trades May-Oct; NE trades, more rain and N swell Nov-Apr
Nearby
- Atuona Laundry ServicesRight here
- Atuona Rent A CarRight here
- Hiva Oa Anchoring Regulations (Arrêté 384 CM, 2026)Right here
- Hiva Oa Cross-Island 4x4 TourRight here
- Marquises Diving (Hiva Oa)Right here
- Tahauku Seawall Dinghy DockRight here
- Tahauku Tourism CommitteeRight here
- CODIM Inter-Island Shuttle (Tahauku)0.1 NM away