Explore Tikehau

Tikehau is a small coral atoll which lies in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It lies in the South Pacific Ocean and is exactly what someone would imagine when thinking about a tropical paradise island. Diving here will allow divers to see an incredibly exciting underwater world which is submerged in crystal clear, warm waters. The two main diving areas here are the incredibly circular lagoon which offers crystal clear waters and a high density of marine life, and the Tuheiava Pass which connects the lagoon with the sea which offers some thrilling drift dives alongside many large species including Manta Rays and Barracudas. Diving here is available for divers of all levels and the dives are accessed either from the local dive centres and dive clubs, or from a liveaboard. This is definitely diving in paradise.

Dive Activity

Diving in Tikehau

For novice divers, diving in the lagoon means having some impressive dives in protected, calm waters which are teeming with life. This is also an ideal spot for those wanting to take dive courses. Out in the pass, there are a number of gentle, but exhilarating drift dives to be done. There are shallow reefs, slopes, steep drop offs, coral walls, and some deep dives for technical divers. What all the dives have in common is that they are all accompanied by a high density of colourful marine life with a very high chance of spotting larger species also.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Tikehau

This tropical atoll is accessible year-round. The summer runs between November and April and is not only the warmest time of the year, but also the most humid, the winter time is drier and cooler. The air temperatures range between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius. Luckily, the water temperatures don’t drop below 26 degrees Celsius and averages around 29 degrees. The visibility is above average here throughout the year, with ranges between 10 and 30 metres, sometimes reaching higher than that.

There is such a high density of marine species here that there is something exciting to see year round.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Tikehau

Back in the day, Jacques Cousteau claimed that this was the highest density of marine life in the Tuamotu Archipelago, and so far it has lived up to that claim. The reefs, coral heads, coral walls and more are covered in a colourful array of Hard Corals, Soft Corals, Sea Sponges, Anemones and more, which attract many different species. The species here range from large schools of colourful reef fish to Barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse, Lionfish, Sea Turtles, Clownfish, Jacks, Tuna, Moray Eels, and more.

What divers are often hoping to see, and likely will see, the most are the larger species including Silver Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, and the majestic Manta Rays.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

368 Sightings
J
22
F
26
M
39
A
32
M
27
J
27
J
29
A
58
S
38
O
29
N
30
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

324 Sightings
J
28
F
20
M
40
A
21
M
26
J
24
J
26
A
41
S
37
O
26
N
23
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

239 Sightings
J
16
F
14
M
27
A
9
M
14
J
17
J
18
A
46
S
27
O
17
N
29
D
5
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

169 Sightings
J
4
F
18
M
22
A
12
M
32
J
14
J
15
A
6
S
18
O
9
N
14
D
5
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

113 Sightings
J
12
F
2
M
10
A
9
M
14
J
2
J
8
A
14
S
23
O
7
N
6
D
6
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

105 Sightings
J
8
F
14
M
23
A
7
M
18
J
3
J
5
A
3
S
6
O
11
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

37 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
8
A
2
M
5
J
2
J
0
A
3
S
6
O
0
N
6
D
0
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

35 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
11
A
3
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
7
O
2
N
2
D
0
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

366 Sightings
J
23
F
25
M
46
A
25
M
24
J
23
J
39
A
62
S
31
O
31
N
24
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

302 Sightings
J
24
F
24
M
38
A
26
M
13
J
26
J
26
A
37
S
27
O
33
N
22
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

282 Sightings
J
21
F
25
M
38
A
21
M
13
J
23
J
19
A
41
S
32
O
21
N
21
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

243 Sightings
J
17
F
20
M
31
A
7
M
27
J
19
J
11
A
43
S
27
O
16
N
15
D
10
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

234 Sightings
J
21
F
18
M
30
A
12
M
27
J
26
J
16
A
22
S
27
O
17
N
15
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

210 Sightings
J
15
F
16
M
28
A
15
M
13
J
18
J
21
A
31
S
21
O
20
N
5
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

163 Sightings
J
2
F
15
M
25
A
5
M
5
J
17
J
14
A
37
S
20
O
13
N
7
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

162 Sightings
J
15
F
8
M
17
A
13
M
1
J
17
J
13
A
26
S
16
O
22
N
10
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

152 Sightings
J
15
F
16
M
17
A
5
M
9
J
17
J
16
A
25
S
5
O
14
N
13
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

147 Sightings
J
5
F
10
M
23
A
11
M
5
J
9
J
12
A
31
S
10
O
15
N
9
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

135 Sightings
J
22
F
12
M
10
A
9
M
0
J
11
J
13
A
15
S
26
O
10
N
7
D
0
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

124 Sightings
J
0
F
12
M
10
A
9
M
0
J
7
J
16
A
25
S
15
O
14
N
12
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

90 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
10
A
3
M
0
J
12
J
14
A
20
S
4
O
7
N
11
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

78 Sightings
J
11
F
6
M
23
A
5
M
0
J
12
J
4
A
6
S
0
O
8
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

77 Sightings
J
9
F
5
M
8
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
6
A
20
S
11
O
15
N
0
D
3
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

75 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
14
A
7
M
4
J
3
J
6
A
18
S
8
O
7
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

68 Sightings
J
2
F
8
M
12
A
3
M
0
J
6
J
8
A
12
S
0
O
12
N
2
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

64 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
9
A
7
M
0
J
0
J
13
A
15
S
6
O
8
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

61 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
7
A
12
M
0
J
2
J
9
A
3
S
11
O
12
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

55 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
6
A
0
M
7
J
2
J
10
A
12
S
10
O
0
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

53 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
15
A
6
M
1
J
7
J
0
A
12
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

46 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
2
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
7
A
12
S
3
O
12
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

41 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
2
A
4
M
0
J
13
J
3
A
4
S
4
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

40 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
10
J
0
A
9
S
4
O
5
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

37 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
13
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
6
A
3
S
4
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

30 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
7
J
0
A
3
S
4
O
9
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

28 Sightings
J
9
F
4
M
6
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
7
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
7
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
13
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
3
A
7
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

15 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Sole

Sole

12 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
8
O
0
N
2
D
0