The channel - Fakarava
Drifting through Fakarava's channel is a unique experience, especially during an incoming tide. We often see reef sharks, sometimes in large numbers, along with schools of snapper and barracuda. The current can be brisk, so it’s best for experienced divers comfortable with drift dives. It’s less about intricate reef features and more about the pelagic action.
- Location
- Fakarava, French Polynesia, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -16.513588, -145.461990
- Type
- drift
- Maximum Depth
- 15-30m
Marine Protected Area: Atoll de Fakarava
Nearby Dive Sites in Fakarava
- Alibaba - 28m
- Garuae Pass (drift)
- Garuae Pass (wall)
- Pufana - 15m
- Tombant d Ohotu - 23m (wall)
- Tumakohua Pass (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to The channel
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