FAQs · Destination Guide
Two legendary passes, shark-rich drift dives, and a lagoon that still feels wild
Updated Apr 21, 2026 • 9 sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers sourced from research and local operating patterns.
The easiest overall window is May to October, which aligns with the drier and cooler stretch in French Polynesia. This period is the safest answer for weather comfort, boat planning, and general trip reliability. If your main reason for going is the famous camouflage grouper aggregation in the south pass, June to July is the standout period to target. Fakarava still works outside that window, but November to April deserves more flexibility because humidity, showers, and domestic logistics risk all increase.
The Wall of Sharks is associated with Tumakohua Pass in the south of Fakarava near Tetamanu. It is not a standalone beach attraction or a casual snorkel zone. It is a guide-led scuba experience in a current-shaped pass where grey reef sharks can stack densely in the channel. Divers staying in Rotoava can visit it as a long day trip, but travelers who want repeated shark-focused dives usually get more value by spending nights in the south rather than doing that long transfer over and over.
Garuae is not a beginner drift. It is French Polynesia's largest pass and can involve strong current, exposed entries, blue-water awareness, and guide-led pickups. The actual difficulty changes with tide, wind, and visibility, so one day can feel much easier than another. Divers with Advanced Open Water and recent current experience are the strongest fit. Newer divers may still be able to dive selected profiles with conservative operators, but they should not assume Garuae will be an easy warm-up site after a long travel day.
The best-known camouflage grouper aggregation period is generally targeted in June to July around full-moon timing in the south pass. That does not mean every day in those months is identical. Operators plan around moon phase, tides, and local conditions, which is why specialized trips fill early. If grouper spawning is your main reason for going, do not just book any June flight and hope. Match your timing to an operator that specifically knows the south-pass wildlife window and builds the schedule around it.
Yes, Fakarava works well for snorkelers if the trip is designed around lagoon access rather than trying to copy a diver's schedule. Easy snorkeling can happen near lagoonfront pensions, shallow reef edges, and places like PK9 or Havaiki. The more dramatic pass-adjacent sessions should stay guide-led because current and pickup logistics matter. The destination also has strong non-dive support through pearl farms, motu outings, biking, and calm lagoon downtime, which makes it workable for mixed couples and families.
Most travelers route through Tahiti and continue by domestic flight to Fakarava Airport, code FAV. Rotoava is close to the airport and acts as the main north-side base. From there, you can stay in the north for easier logistics or arrange onward movement south toward Tetamanu by boat if your trip is shark- and south-pass-focused. Because the atoll is remote and domestic schedules matter, it is smart to build a buffer on Tahiti before international departure, especially after diving or during more weather-variable months.
There is no commonly advertised separate diver tag or standard daily marine-park pass for Fakarava visitors in the way some other dive destinations use them. That does not mean the area is unregulated. Fakarava sits inside a biosphere reserve context, and French Polynesia has strict marine-wildlife protections. Divers and snorkelers should plan around licensed local operators, follow site briefings closely, and treat conservation as a real operational rule rather than a suggestion. Ask your operator directly if any local fees or supplements are bundled into your package.
Four days is enough for a short taste of the north side, one or two dives, some snorkeling, and a simple bike or beach day. That said, most divers will get much more from six to eight nights, especially if they want both passes, a weather buffer, and at least one day that is not fully structured around boats. Travelers targeting sharks or the grouper aggregation should think even more intentionally about time allocation, and that often means splitting a trip between Rotoava and the south rather than trying to force everything into one base.
Fakarava can suit experienced, conservative freedivers, but it should not be treated as a casual deep-training playground. The lagoon and some shallow reef edges are the easiest fit. Pass environments bring current, boat traffic, and pickup complexity that make independent sessions a bad idea. The best mindset is to use Fakarava as a freedive add-on to a broader snorkel or scuba trip unless you already have local support arranged. Bring a trained buddy, a visible float, and realistic expectations, and prioritize daily conditions over arbitrary training goals.