Dive· Tahiti· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Tombant d'Arue & Arue Grotto (Taunoa–Matavai outer reef)
17° 31.0′ S · 149° 32.9′ W
The outer reef wall between Taunoa Pass and Matavai Bay: a slope dropping to 25–30 m then a cliff, with a shrimp-filled cave at about 29–32 m and Napoleon wrasse at the exit.
Practical
Coordinates are Eleuthera's 'Tombant Arue' site; its 'Vallons du Taaone' site is next door (-17.51383, -149.54933). Diving in Tahiti (Zysman, 1990s; verify locally) describes the Arue Grotto on this reef: anchor on the upper drop-off at 8–10 m level with Arue church, go down to 28–30 m and fin toward Point Venus to a chasm with the cave entrance on the left (use the upper entrance at 29 m and a torch; the floor is fine mud). Do not dive in north swell or strong ENE trades. The École de Plongée de Tahiti runs dives from the Yacht Club de Tahiti, and Eleuthera dives here from Taina.
Best for
Wall and cave dive on the north coast
Season
Best in the maraamu (SE trades); avoid north swell
Nearby
- CHPF Taaone Hospital (Pirae)0.7 NM away
- Yacht Club de Tahiti Moorings (Arue)0.8 NM away
- Arue – Yacht Club de Tahiti0.9 NM away
- Arue Roulottes & Coconut Station (Yacht Club de Tahiti)0.9 NM away
- Carrefour Arue0.9 NM away
- Yacht Club de Tahiti Fuel Dock (Arue)0.9 NM away
- École de Plongée de Tahiti (Yacht Club de Tahiti, Arue)1 NM away
- Ets Émile Vongue & Fils (Mariner/Tohatsu, Papeete)1 NM away