Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on September 26, 2020
Tahiti Plage (Tahiti Beach) shares the same underwater features as much more famous N’Gouja beach, but it is much quieter. Its reef drop-off is rich with life and well preserved and spotting green sea turtles is common.
Tahiti Beach is located on the west coast of the island, less than 2 kilometers south of Sada. By car, from Mamoudzou and the north, follow the RN2 (Route Nationale 2) to Sada. Once you’ve arrived in Sada, head south on CCD5 for about 1.5 kilometer. The beach, located approximately 30 meters from the main road, is well signposted on the right (“Tahiti Plage”).
You can enter the water anywhere along the sandy beach. At low tide, because of the shallowness of the water, you’ll have to sneak between the corals to reach the reef drop-off.
The area to explore covers a wide area between the beach and the reef drop-off some 200 meters away. From the beach, you will cross a few dozen yards of sand (↕4-8ft/1-2m), and then the seabed is covered with coral (↕4-10ft/1-3m) as far as the reef drop-off (↕30ft/10m).
Although there are some interesting fish species to observe on the reef flat (colorful sixbar wrasse, couples of melon butterflyfish…), the spectacle takes on another dimension when you get closer to the reef drop-off. The sea bed here is spectacular: hundreds of green chromis and sulfur damselfish swimming along the reef, giant clam opening its shell and extending its fluorescent mantle tissue, black-sided hawkfish perched on coral prominences and waiting for their next prey…
Look at the skunk clownfish disappearing into the tentacles of their sea anemones at the least sign of danger. In this area, like elsewhere in Mayotte Island, you might come across green sea turtles, which come to the area regularly. However, if you love those fascinating and friendly creatures, head instead to N’Gouja where they literally abound.
There are sometimes a lot of visitors on this site, especially during week-ends, for traditional “woulé” (picnic on the beach), and on weekdays for sunset.
There is a small café located between the road and the beach. In the village of Sada, 1 mile north to Tahiti Plage, you will find quite a wide choice of food.
Sea turtles are a familiar sight in Tahiti Plage. In order to be a responsible snorkeler, be sure to respect the following rules when observing them:
If you love snorkeling with sea turtle, N’Gouja Beach is by far the best spot to encounter them on the island.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
