Dive· Tahiti· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Atimaono / Faarearea Pass Dive (Papara)
17° 47.2′ S · 149° 28.3′ W
The sacred pass of Papara, said to have been cut by the ocean god Rua-Hatu with its stones used for Marae Mahaiatea, now an easy 15 m pass dive with paddletail snappers, goatfish and lagoon sharks in the faults.
Practical
Coordinates from Tahiti Heritage (Passe sacrée Faarearea); OpenStreetMap names it Passe Te Avaraa (-17.78526, -149.47233), and the Diving in Tahiti guide calls it Teavaraa or Atimaono Pass. Guide notes (1990s, verify): anchor at the foot of the right-bank buoy, not past it; a slight ebb current usually runs; clear water because there are no streams nearby; dangerous to cross in a strong maraamu or south-south-west swell. Grottoes at 4–5 m and coral arches in 2–3 m shallows at the end.
Best for
Easy pass dive on the south coast
Nearby
- Taharuu Black-Sand Surf Beach (Papara)1.1 NM away
- Alfa Peak (Passe Aifa, Mataiea)2.7 NM away
- Vaipahi Water Gardens (Teva I Uta)5 NM away
- Maraa Grotto (Paea)5.9 NM away
- Cyclone Season – Tahiti & Windward Islands7.2 NM away
- Maraamu Trade-Wind Surges7.2 NM away
- Plage de Rohotu (Paea)8 NM away
- Marae Arahurahu (Paea)8.1 NM away