Dive· Tahiti· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Saint-Étienne Drop-offs (Grand Tombant, Faille St-Étienne, Piton aux Gorgones)
17° 36.8′ S · 149° 37.2′ W
A cluster of vertical walls on the Punaauia outer reef south of Taapuna Pass: a soft slope to 5–6 m then a sheer drop, a reef fault full of turtles and morays, and a coral pinnacle covered in gorgonians at 25 m+.
Practical
Coordinates are Eleuthera's 'Grand Tombant'; 'Faille St-Étienne' (-17.61615, -149.61971) and 'Piton aux Gorgones' (-17.61662, -149.62031) are a few hundred metres south, and 'Passe Nordhoff' (-17.6199, -149.6178) is next door. Diving in Tahiti (1990s) rates the area easy to difficult, 6–60 m: anchor at 5–6 m on the narrow plateau opposite Saint-Étienne church (about 1 nm from Taapuna Pass); calm sea essential. Dogtooth tuna, jacks and unicornfish in the blue.
Best for
Wall diving close to Marina Taina
Nearby
- La Source & Plateau aux Tortues (Pointe des Pêcheurs)1.2 NM away
- Musée de Tahiti et des Îles (Punaauia)1.2 NM away
- Pointe des Pêcheurs (La Source) Snorkel, Punaauia1.2 NM away
- Vallée aux Rougets & Droite de Taapuna (Taapuna Pass)1.3 NM away
- Propane / Cooking Gas Refill (Mobil stations, Tahiti)1.6 NM away
- Casa Bianca (Marina Taina)1.7 NM away
- Diesel-Clinic (Beta Marine dealer, Punaauia)1.7 NM away
- Eleuthera Tahiti Diving Center (Marina Taina, tank fills)1.7 NM away