The Break - Rangiroa
The Break in Rangiroa is exactly what it sounds like, a section of reef where the ocean swell regularly crashes over the top, creating powerful surge. It’s a shallow drift over a busy hard coral reef, often with white tip reef sharks tucked into the cracks and parrotfish grazing the coral. We'd suggest this site for experienced divers comfortable with surge and strong currents. It's a proper wild ride when the conditions are right.
- Location
- Rangiroa, French Polynesia, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -14.452218, -146.073620
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 15-35m
Best Time to Dive in Rangiroa
The warmest water temperatures in Rangiroa occur in April, averaging 29.2°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.5°C
- February: 28.7°C
- March: 29.2°C
- April: 29.2°C
- May: 28.7°C
- June: 28.0°C
- July: 27.3°C
- August: 26.8°C
- September: 26.8°C
- October: 27.3°C
- November: 28.1°C
- December: 28.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Rangiroa
- 6 passengers
- Alibaba (reef)
- Alibaba (cenote)
- Avatoru Pass (drift)
- Blue Lagoon (reef)
- Eolienne (cenote)
- Mamaa
- Manta Point (reef)
- Motu Nuhi-Nuhi (l’aquarium) (wreck)
- Nuhi Nuhi
- Passe de Tikehau - Tuheiava (wreck)
- Passe de Tiputa (reef)
- Poito (reef)
- Pufana (reef)
- Tairapa Pass - 20-40m (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to The Break
Marine Life in Rangiroa
Home to 153 recorded species including 129 reef fish, 6 sea cucumbers, 5 whales & dolphins, 5 hard corals, 2 sharks & rays, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Bearded Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes xestus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Bluelined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigroris) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) - Reef Fish
- Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) - Reef Fish
- Black-barred Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) - Reef Fish
- Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Brown Sandfish (Bohadschia vitiensis) - Sea Cucumbers
Recommended Packing List for The Break
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C, currents 11 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories