Funafuti South Pass - Funafuti Atoll
Funafuti South Pass? This is it. Our pick for Tuvalu. You’re dropping into a proper channel dive here, not for the faint of heart, but oh, is it worth the effort. The current can be fierce, absolutely ripping through the pass, which is exactly why everything big hangs out here. We’re talking grey reef sharks, and lots of them, often schooling up. The trick is to time it right, ideally on an incoming tide, but even then, be ready for a ride. We often spend the first part of the dive just hanging in the blue, watching the show. Schools of blue and gold fusiliers stream past, thick as a curtain. Look closer and you’ll spot keeltail needlefish patrolling, sleek and silver. Deeper, around 20-25m, the coral starts to get interesting with some big brain corals and staghorns clinging on, despite the flow. Keep an eye out for undulated morays tucked into crevices. It’s a sensory overload: the rumble of the current, the sheer number of fish, the feeling of flying. This is a site for advanced divers who love a bit of a thrill and aren't afraid of a strong drift. It’s a genuine taste of remote Pacific power.
- Location
- Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -8.570000, 179.180000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-30m
- Difficulty
- Advanced
Marine Protected Area: Funafuti
Best Time to Dive in Funafuti Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Funafuti Atoll occur in January, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
- February: 30.3°C (air: 27.9°C)
- March: 30.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
- April: 30.3°C (air: 28.1°C)
- May: 30.3°C (air: 28.1°C)
- June: 30.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
- July: 30.3°C (air: 27.8°C)
- August: 30.3°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 30.3°C (air: 27.6°C)
- October: 30.3°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 30.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
- December: 30.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Funafuti Atoll
- Funafuti Conservation Area - 5-20m (reef)
- NZ 4031 - 20m (wreck)
- SISCO - 0m (wreck)
- Te Ava Tepuka - 10-35m (reef)
- VAN CAMP NO 1 - 0m (wreck)
Marine Life in Funafuti Atoll
Home to 162 recorded species including 111 reef fish, 26 hard corals, 9 sea cucumbers, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 sharks & rays, 2 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Giant spider conch (Lambis truncata) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Amberfish (Thelenota anax) - Sea Cucumbers
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Prickly Redfish (Thelenota ananas) - Sea Cucumbers
- Acropora Butterfly (Chaetodon trifascialis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Fluted clam (Tridacna squamosa) - Clams & Mussels
- Tigerfish (Bohadschia argus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Black Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Funafuti South Pass
Based on average water temperature of 30.3°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°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