Garuae Pass - Fakarava

Dropping into Garuae Pass means riding the incoming current, a drift that can feel like flying. You’re looking for grey reef sharks, lots of them, often schooling in the hundreds at the mouth of the pass. Keep an eye out for mantas and eagle rays gliding by too. It’s a site best suited for experienced divers comfortable with strong currents and navigating open water.

Location: Fakarava, French Polynesia, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates: -16.076578, -145.718800
Type: drift

Marine Protected Area: Atoll de Fakarava

Nearby Dive Sites in Fakarava

Alibaba - 28m
Garuae Pass (wall)
Pufana - 15m
The channel - 15-30m (drift)
Tombant d Ohotu - 23m (wall)
Tumakohua Pass (drift)

Nearest Dive Centres to Garuae Pass

Marine Life in Fakarava

Home to 206 recorded species including 178 reef fish, 8 sea cucumbers, 6 whales & dolphins, 5 sharks & rays, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Reef Fish
Dot and dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) - Reef Fish
Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
Blunt-head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos) - Reef Fish
Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
Long-nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps) - Reef Fish
Australian Squirrel-fish (Myripristis violacea) - Reef Fish
Sickle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) - Reef Fish
Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
Big-nose Unicorn (Naso vlamingii) - Reef Fish
Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Yellowtail Dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) - Reef Fish
Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish