Tumakohua Pass

Tumakohua Pass is the southern pass of Fakarava atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia, cutting through the reef into the lagoon near the village of Tetamanu. It is well known among divers for its wall of grey reef sharks that gather in the pass, often numbering in the hundreds during certain times of year, along with other reef fish drawn to the nutrient rich water moving through the channel. Dives here are typically drift dives, entering near the outer edge of the pass and riding the incoming current into the lagoon, with depths generally in the 15 to 30 metre range. Because of the strong currents and the need for good buoyancy control and timing around tides, it is generally considered a dive for those with some drift diving experience.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
• Paletail UnicornfishNaso brevirostrisReported here · unconfirmed
• Reticulate ButterflyfishChaetodon reticulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Slingjaw WrasseEpibulus insidiatorReported here · unconfirmed
• Pacific Double-saddle ButterflyfishChaetodon ulietensisReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• yellowtail dascyllusDascyllus flavicaudusReported here · unconfirmed
• Humpback SnapperLutjanus gibbusReported here · unconfirmed
• Yellowfin SurgeonfishAcanthurus xanthopterusReported here · unconfirmed