Beach· Tahanea· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Tahanea South Rim Three Motus
16° 59.0′ S · 144° 39.4′ W · approximate
A group of three 'particularly attractive' motus on Tahanea's south rim, fronted by narrow 10 ft sand banks so clear they look too shallow to cross.
Practical
Coordinate approximate: Fellow Traveler's sand-bank position (May 2010, 16°59.04'S 144°39.37'W, corrected by Mary Anne II), which they describe as the SW corner of a group of three particularly attractive motus. Fellow Traveler: anchor on the edge of the bank and use a Bahamian moor with both anchors along the bank, so you don't swing onto the reef or into coral heads in deeper water. Shoal-draft boats and catamarans do best here. The approach is endless 35 ft sand and coral heads, so come in good light with a bow watch. You can also reach it by dinghy from the SE corner anchorages. Land below the high-tide line; the motus may hold nesting birds.
Best for
Remote beaches for catamarans in settled weather
Season
Settled E-SE trades
Nearby
- Tahanea South Rim Sand Banks AnchorageRight here
- Tahanea Sandy Beach Anchorage4.2 NM away
- Tahanea SE Corner Beach4.2 NM away
- Maramu (Reinforced Trades) Refuges4.5 NM away
- Tahanea SE Corner Anchorage4.5 NM away
- Tahanea Copra Shed Anchorage4.7 NM away
- Tuamotu Sandpiper Nesting Season (Tahanea)4.7 NM away
- Tahanea Motu Walks5.1 NM away