Avatoru pass is not as famous as its mythic neighbor Tiputa, but drift snorkeling is also possible -and great!) there. A boat drops you at the channel entrance and lets you drift along with the current down to the inner lagoon. In the meantime, you’ll feast your eyes on the rich underwater life: if you’re lucky enough you will spot sharks, rays and turtles from the surface of the sea.
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How to go snorkeling in the Avatoru Pass?
The pass is located next to Avatoru village, at the western tip of Rangiroa Atoll’s main inhabited Motu. Booking a boat tour is the only safe way to snorkel here. Several local operators offer tours including 2 or 3 drift snorkels in the pass (2h, €40 to 50 per person including hotel pick-up).
Another option is to book a day tour to the Blue Lagoon: most of them leave from Avatoru pontoon, near the pass, and often include one drift snorkeling in Avatoru Pass, usually in the morning, before heading to their final destination. Make sure of that when booking.
The experience is quite impressive: drift snorkel means you will be carried away, taken by a moderate current over an important depth. As a consequence, it is not to be undertaken by young children or debutant swimmers. Do not consider snorkeling this location without a guide.
Water entrance for snorkeling the Avatoru Pass
Once your boat is in the pass, you will enter the water directly from it. A guide will stay with you all the way down to the pick-up point.
Avatoru Pass snorkeling tips and recommendations
You will enjoy observing the underwater world all along your journey from the pass entrance to the inner lagoon. After letting you jump in the water, your boat will follow you at a distance and ultimately pick you up at the pass exit in Rangiroa lagoon.
The central part of the pass is fairly deep (↕100 to 115 ft/30 to 35 m), but gets shallower as you approach Motu Fara, the motu splitting the pass on the inner lagoon side (↕12-30ft/4-10 m).
Deep areas are best for spotting sharks (mainly blacktip reef sharks), rays (including majestic manta rays) and green sea turtles. Just like in Tiputa Pass, luck can change everything in this spot. Just a few minutes apart, two groups of snorkelers can have totally different experiences and spot many species or just a few.
Snorkeling is more “classic” along the pass shores and around the motu (↕5-10ft/1,5-3m). Some areas are covered with corals sheltering numerous fish, including triggerfish, trevallies and surgeonfish.
A tour to the Avatoru Pass generally includes 2 to 3 drifts, which should be enough to explore both the center and the edges of the channel. If you take part in an excursion to the Blue Lagoon, you will most likely have to settle for only one drift.
Restaurants & accommodation nearby
Several snacks and restaurants are settled around the pontoon and in Avatoru village. Opening times may vary, consider inquiring about it in advance.
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