Diving in Tuamotu Archipelago
The Tuamotu Archipelago is home to the largest chain of atolls in the world and covers an area roughly the size of Western Europe. The best island in the region where you can do land-based diving is Rangiroa; in this place, you will get lots of great shark action. Hop on a Liveaboard for the week and head to the island of Fakarava to get the most out of diving these spread-out, lagoon-filled atolls. With so many islets and sandbars in and around the Tuamotus most div-ing is done within the passes between them as intentional drift dives or on the shoulder of the passes where the currents are not as strong. Most dives are carefully planned when the flow rate is enough to attract a high concentration of marine life but not too fast for divers to manage safely. This region offers excellent diving all year round. You will find high visibility up to 100 feet (30 meters) and warm waters that rarely drop below 80 ºF (27º C). Beautiful pristine hard corals are part of the underwater scenery in these islands and atolls; however, the main attraction is the pelagic encounters, with dolphins that swim nearby as well as big schools of fish and many species of sharks.
Dive Sites in Tuamotu Archipelago
Featured places to go in Tuamotu Archipelago
Aquatic Life in Tuamotu Archipelago
You might not find as many reefs filled with colorful hard corals, sponges, and sea fans as other parts of French Poly-nesia; however, the marine life in the Tuamotus is rich, diverse, and abundant. This place will amaze you as you encoun-ter tons of turtles cruising the reefs, plenty of gray, blacktip, whitetip, and silvertip reef sharks, and friendly bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. Different fish species can be found everywhere in the Tuamotus including raccoon but-terflyfish, paddletail snapper, barracuda, clownfish, jacks, napoleon wrasse, and the majestic spotted eagle and manta ray.