Wildlife· Kaukura· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Temarite Manta Hole (Kaukura)
15° 44.5′ S · 146° 42.8′ W · approximate
A legendary blue hole in the middle of Kaukura's lagoon, linked to the reef by an unexplored tunnel, where a school of manta rays glides within a metre of snorkelers.
Practical
Position is only the centre of the atoll from OpenStreetMap: the hole's location is not published, so do not navigate to this point. Go with a local guide; Welcome Tahiti describes Jeannot, who runs a small guesthouse, taking visitors by boat and seeing seven mantas on one snorkel. Local legend says sharks and mantas took two children, Maritipa and Teahiaroa, into the hole. Kaukura has no dive club or official guide, and the article is older, so ask in Raitahiti.
Best for
Snorkeling with mantas off the beaten track
Nearby
- Kaukura Supply-Ship Day (Raitahiti)10.1 NM away
- Raitahiti Landing and Supply-Ship Buoy (Kaukura)10.1 NM away
- Kaukura Atoll and Raitahiti Village10.2 NM away
- Kaukura Mairie and Landing Rules (Raitahiti)10.2 NM away
- Raitahiti Magasins, Snacks and Bakery (Kaukura)10.2 NM away
- Raitahiti Post Office (Kaukura)10.2 NM away
- Kaukura Infirmary (Raitahiti)10.3 NM away
- Raitahiti Marae (Kaukura)10.4 NM away