Nature
Coral Garden Snorkel (Toahotu Pass)
Shallow coral garden off the motu with reef fish, rays and the odd blacktip reef shark.
Typical duration
60 min
Price
Free; snorkel gear lent by the ship
From port
0.1 km / 0.1 mi
Transfer time
12 min
Indoor / Outdoor
outdoor
Queue risk
low
🕐 Best time to visit
Late morning when the sun lights up the coral; slack tide is calmest
The coral garden lies along the motu's lagoon side, near where it meets Passe Toahotu. Most of it is waist to chest deep, with coral heads, parrotfish, butterflyfish and clams, and stingrays and small blacktip reef sharks cruising the sand. The sharks are shy and harmless if left alone. The current is the one thing to respect: it runs through the pass and can be strong on a falling tide. Stay inside the area the crew marks out, snorkel with a buddy and don't stand on the coral.
Getting there from the port
Walk from the landing to the lagoon-side snorkel area the crew marks out