Anchorage· Tetiaroa· French Polynesia — Society Islands

Tetiaroa Outer-Reef Day Stop (off Motu Rimatu'u)

17° 2.3′ S · 149° 33.6′ W · approximate

Tetiaroa has no pass, so day-charter catamarans and the occasional yacht lie on a few moorings off the south reef and ferry people over the reef by dinghy to Motu Rimatu'u, with its coconut grove, freshwater pond, marae and view across to Bird Island.

Society Islands Tahiti & Moorea

Practical

Approximate, but derived from mapped features rather than guessed: about 300 m seaward of the south reef edge off Rimatu'u as mapped on OpenStreetMap (reef edge about 17.036°S at 149.56°W; Wikidata puts the centre of Rimatu'u at -17.02917, -149.56). No published mooring position was found. Moorings: cruisers found five moorings off Rimatu'u in Sept 2019, each used by a day-charter company (The Moorings on the eastern ball, then Poe, then Tahiti Tours; the fourth unused); two are close together and two are close to the reef. In 2011 there were two very large moorings and one small one. The charter boats arrive about 10am and leave about 3pm; a private yacht may take a buoy after they leave but must give it up if a charter boat needs it, and some charter skippers let others raft astern (Soggy Paws compendium). There is no anchoring: the water is over 100 m deep right up to the reef edge, and charted 6–20 m banks were not found (Sete Mares, 2011). Sugar Shack saw a possible 15–18 m area off the Brando's south-west side but did not try it. Landing: there is no pass; dinghies time the swell to cross the reef crest, which charter skippers do two passengers at a time. It is frightening and only for the experienced (2011 and 2019 reports). Rules: no permit is published for landing on the public coastal strip of Rimatu'u, which the Tetiaroa Society plan designates (with Bird Island) as the visitor area for day charters. Bird Island (Tahuna) is a reserve: no landing, observe from the water. Do not take coconut crabs, and respect the 2014 lagoon fishing zone (half the lagoon closed to all fishing). The Brando on Onetahi is private: visiting boats are not admitted. Conditions: a surge breaks 25–30 m from the moorings and it is rolly even for a 47 ft catamaran; leave if the wind goes south or west, which puts the reef under your stern. Tetiaroa light: Fl(2) W 10s, 15 nm, on the south-east rim (-17.04833, -149.54834, NGA). Humpbacks are often seen on the way July–November.

Tetiaroa Outer-Reef Day Stop (off Motu Rimatu'u)

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