Anchorage· Moorea· French Polynesia — Society Islands

Papetoai Lagoon Anchorage (west of Tareu Pass)

17° 29.3′ S · 149° 52.6′ W · approximate

A shallow sand patch inside the reef west of Tareu Pass, between the pass and the underwater Tiki sculptures, used by cruisers who find the inner Opunohu Bay too deep and muddy.

Society Islands Tahiti & Moorea

Practical

Approximate position, derived from the Service du Tourisme 2026 chart (the Tiki exhibition and wreck lie just west of here) and a Noonsite cruiser report (Nov 2022) describing room for about 5 boats on the right (west) side of the pass near the Tiki snorkelling site, shallower around the edges. Not a designated ZMR under the annulled 2025 decree; this is a heavily used snorkel and activity-boat area, so keep clear of the Tiki site and swimmers, and fly a dive/snorkel flag when in the water. Papetoai Dock is the nearest shore access (not on cruise-ship days). Legal status (Oct 2026): the ZMR quotas come from arrêté 910 CM of 26 June 2025, which the Administrative Tribunal of French Polynesia annulled on 15 July 2026 (case 2500441, brought by the Association des Voiliers en Polynésie); the anchoring articles of the 2021 PGEM were also annulled by the Paris appeal court with effect from 1 June 2026. Noonsite (Aug 2026) reports the restrictions are not currently ratified and talks between AVP and local groups are ongoing. Until a replacement rule is published, treat the ZMR quotas and 48-hour limit as the expected good practice, check escales.gov.pf or call DPAM (40 54 45 78, 24/7) before arriving, and expect the nautical patrol (87 704 657) to ask about your stay.

Papetoai Lagoon Anchorage (west of Tareu Pass)

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