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.
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
Alamy-WaterFrame
357 Sightings
J
22
F
26
M
39
A
28
M
21
J
27
J
29
A
58
S
37
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
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
318 Sightings
J
28
F
20
M
40
A
20
M
21
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
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
237 Sightings
J
16
F
14
M
27
A
9
M
13
J
17
J
18
A
46
S
26
O
17
N
29
D
5
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst
Tiger Shark
149 Sightings
J
4
F
18
M
22
A
6
M
20
J
13
J
14
A
6
S
18
O
9
N
14
D
5
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
107 Sightings
J
12
F
2
M
10
A
6
M
11
J
2
J
8
A
14
S
23
O
7
N
6
D
6
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark
101 Sightings
J
8
F
14
M
23
A
6
M
15
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
iStock/Juliosanjuan
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
iStock/Divepic
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
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
29 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
6
J
2
J
2
A
0
S
9
O
0
N
3
D
0
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark
347 Sightings
J
23
F
25
M
46
A
18
M
13
J
23
J
39
A
62
S
30
O
31
N
24
D
13
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.
