Seasonal· Maupiti· French Polynesia — Society Islands

Maupiti Pass Season & Manta Season

16° 29.2′ S · 152° 14.8′ W

Maupiti's calendar is set by the pass. In the April-October trade-wind season, a south swell can close Onoiau for weeks, trapping boats inside. Calm windows are most common in the November-April cyclone season, but the lagoon has no hurricane hole. Mantas are around all year, with the biggest groups from July to November.

Society IslandsTahiti & Moorea

Practical

Noonsite: entry and exit are realistic only in settled weather, ideally wind under 20 kn and swell under 6 ft. From April to October those conditions are hard to find and many boats get trapped for weeks. Ideal conditions come in the cyclone season, but there is no sheltered hurricane hole, so keep visits brief. Noonsite's docking profile sets a 5 ft swell limit and says not to enter in strong S-SE winds. ISRA: manta groups of 4-5 are common July-November. Tahiti Tourisme: humpback whales rarely enter the lagoon but are sometimes seen offshore in season. Plan Maupiti as an out-and-back from Bora Bora (about 26 nm, Noonsite) with spare days, and watch south-swell forecasts closely. Coordinate is the Noonsite pass position.

Best for

Planning when to go and how long to allow

Season

Trade season Apr–Oct (pass often closed by S swell); cyclone season Nov–Apr (calmer pass, no shelter)

Nearby