The Six Most Beautiful Sites in the Tuamotu Islands

Famous among divers the world over, Tiputa pass is known for the beauty and variety of its marine life. Snorkeling or scuba diving, you’ll be amazed by what you observe beneath the waves: rays, sharks, jackfish, playful dolphins… There’s so much life down there. You can explore this magnificent site on both the incoming and outgoing tide.

Standing like a natural fortress in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Makatea atoll in the heart of the Tuamotu Islands is known for its limestone cliffs and the mining pits in the center of the island. The pits are the remains of the phosphate mining industry which exploited the island’s resources for 60 years. You can take a hiking trail to see the pits, but be careful, some of the holes are 90 feet deep!

Tumakohu pass in Fakarava is called ‘the wall of sharks’ because of the number of gray, blacktip, whitetip, hammerhead and other sharks that reside there, as well as countless other fish such as groupers and napoleonfish. It’s a unique dive site and an experience unlike anything else you’ve ever seen.

If you want a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experience, then go to the beach at PK9 in Fakarava. Long and deserted, the white sandy beach is shaded by coconut trees, and the turquoise water is crystal clear and warm. Situated 6 miles from the main village (hence its name), it is a paradise beach on a paradise island.

Makatea stands out from the other atolls in the Tuamotu Islands mainly because of its high limestone cliffs. But in the island’s interior, there is another geological feature which makes this such a special place: freshwater caves. The water was once used for baptisms, domestic needs, and agriculture, and the caves are still the perfect place to cool off during your visit on a hot summer day.

Legend has it that when the bell used to ring, it signalled that the small pool was ready for Queen Hina to take her bath, in ancient times, Hina’s bell, a coral growth nine feet high in the south of the atoll, was part of a coastal bench. Unfortunately, in 1989, Hina’s bell collapsed due to erosion from the waves. But there are still other remarkable coral growths on this idyllic beach and the legend lives on.