Fakarava Garuae Pass
Rotoava anchorage · Fakarava north pass anchorage
16°02.0'S 145°30.0'W
Depth
5–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
85m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m
85m for good holding in 5–15m sand. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — anchor placement in sand is mandatory, not optional. Snorkel to verify sand before setting. In fresh SE trades, E/SE exposure creates chop near the pass.
About This Anchorage
Fakarava is one of the most special destinations in all of the Pacific — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest atoll in French Polynesia (60km x 25km), and home to some of the most spectacular diving in the world. Garuae Pass in the north is the world's second-largest atoll pass — 1.6km wide — yet still runs at 3–5kt of current on spring tides. Enter at slack water. Rotoava village near the pass has a small supermarket, guesthouse accommodation, a post office, and dive operators. The Fakarava lagoon is extraordinary — turquoise water, pristine coral, and an almost otherworldly stillness. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, no anchoring on coral is strictly enforced — all vessels must anchor in sand.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW
Exposed To
E · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring in sand.
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- French Polynesia cruising permit required. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve regulations apply — all crew must be briefed on no-coral-anchor rules before entering.
Restrictions: UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — NO ANCHORING ON CORAL; strictly enforced with significant fines. ENTER GARUAE PASS AT SLACK WATER ONLY — current 3–5kt. Navigate lagoon in good light only. Report to Gendarmerie at Rotoava.
Hazards
- !GARUAE PASS CURRENT — 3–5kt on spring tides despite its 1.6km width; ENTER AT SLACK WATER ONLY
- !UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — NO ANCHORING ON CORAL; fines are significant; snorkel to verify sand placement before setting
- !Atoll approach — Fakarava is invisible until close range; approach on GPS waypoints only
- !Distance from assistance — 450nm from Papeete; vessel must be fully self-sufficient
- !Limited provisions — carry 3+ weeks of food and fuel from Papeete
Skipper's Tips
- →The diving at Garuae Pass during the shark aggregation (June–July) is legendary — hundreds of grey reef sharks in the pass current
- →The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status is strictly enforced — anchor in sand only; this protects genuinely pristine coral
- →Fakarava to Tetamanu (south pass, 55nm south inside the lagoon) is a long day's sail through extraordinarily beautiful atoll waters
- →The Rotoava supermarket stocks some basics but is frequently out of key items — carry everything from Papeete
- →Sunrise and sunset over a Tuamotu atoll lagoon is among the most beautiful natural phenomena on Earth
Facilities
Small supermarket (very limited), guesthouses, dive operators, and a small restaurant in Rotoava village. Post office. Fuel: very limited supply — plan from Papeete.
Nearest provisions: Rotoava village (small supermarket) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
May–October. June–July is peak diving season for shark aggregations at the pass. Fakarava is one of the highlights of the entire Pacific cruising circuit.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 85m
In a remote Tuamotu atoll lagoon, dragging onto coral bommies at night with no assistance for hundreds of miles is a catastrophe. Safety Anchor Alarm is the most important safety tool on your boat in these waters — after your life raft.
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