Wildlife· Moorea· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Stingray & Shark Sandbank (Tiahura, Moorea)
17° 29.3′ S · 149° 54.0′ W
The famous waist-deep sandbank inside the northwest reef where southern stingrays and blacktip reef sharks crowd around visitors. It is Moorea's signature lagoon encounter, and you reach it by dinghy from the north-shore anchorages.
Practical
Feeding sharks is prohibited and the brief asks visitors not to feed any fish (rays, sharks, morays). From Pointe Vaipahu follow the channel markers west; cruisers tie up to a buoy alongside the tour boats (Noonsite 2019). Go early before the tour boats arrive. Shuffle your feet, don't touch the rays, and keep clear of boats circulating in the shallow channel. The surrounding PGEM zone is designated for ray/shark observation; follow the yellow-buoyed zones. The commune's CGEM reviewed new snorkel operations between Motu Tiahura and this sandbank in 2025, so expect more boats.
Best for
Close encounters with rays and blacktips
Itineraries that stop here
Nearby
- Scubapiti Moorea (dive centre, Hauru)0.3 NM away
- Coco Beach (Motu Tiahura)0.6 NM away
- Taotoi Reef & Pass Dive (Tiahura)0.7 NM away
- Tiahura Motu Coral Gardens0.9 NM away
- Motu Picnic Lagoon Tours (Motu Fareone & Tiahura)1 NM away
- Tiahura Public Beach1 NM away
- Tiki Point Dive (NW outer reef, Moorea)1 NM away
- Moorea Fun Dive (dive centre, Tiahura)1.2 NM away