Snorkel· Makemo· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Tapuhiria Pass Drift Snorkel (Makemo West)
16° 26.6′ S · 143° 58.1′ W · approximate
The remote West Pass offers lively drifts with sharks and reef fish, plus a back eddy at its northwest end that holds you out of the current on the flood.
Practical
Approximate position: north of the West Pass anchorage waypoints (16°27.1S / 143°58W); the pass itself is not given a waypoint in the cruiser reports. Ari B (May 2020): nice snorkeling in the pass, especially at the NW end where a back eddy keeps you out of the current on the flood. Villa Veritas (2022) planned a pass-diving window from the anchorage. Use incoming slack and a dinghy pick-up. French Wikipedia credits diving near both passes as the main driver of Makemo's tourism.
Best for
Experienced snorkelers and divers anchored at the West Pass
Nearby
- West Pass Anchorage (Makemo)0.6 NM away
- Punaruku North Sand Flat Anchorage (Makemo)8.6 NM away
- Punaruku Anchorage (Makemo)9.5 NM away
- Punaruku Beach (Makemo)9.5 NM away
- Punaruku Beach Pearls (Makemo)9.6 NM away
- Arikinui Beach (Makemo North Rim)14.7 NM away
- Makemo Lagoon Bommie Field16.9 NM away
- Katiu East End Beach17.7 NM away