Safety · Destination Guide
Ride the tides through the Tuamotus' most famous pelagic pass
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 21 sources
Rangiroa is safe when planned with respect for current, remoteness, sun, and wildlife. The biggest risk is not tropical wildlife. It is underestimating pass current, diving beyond experience, or treating guided drift sites as independent swim zones.
Use qualified local operators for Tiputa and Avatoru. Follow tide-based briefings, descend and ascend as instructed, carry an SMB and audible signal, and stay with the guide. Newer divers should start at the Aquarium or sheltered lagoon sites. Advanced shark or hammerhead attempts may involve depth, current, blue water, and stricter screening.
Rangiroa has local medical support, but recompression-level care is in Tahiti. Carry dive insurance that includes evacuation and chamber treatment, keep your computer data, hydrate, and stop diving immediately if symptoms appear. For sea rescue, French Polynesia uses 16 for JRCC sea emergencies.
Pass current is serious
Tiputa and Avatoru should be treated as guided-water sites. Current direction and strength change with tide, and surface swimmers can be swept quickly.
Remote medical logistics
Rangiroa has local medical support, but recompression-level care is in Tahiti. Conservative profiles and evacuation-capable insurance matter.
Wet-season flexibility
November to April can still be excellent, but heavier showers, humidity, and flight or boat disruption risk are higher.
Sun and coral cuts
Shallow lagoon days mean intense sun, coral rubble, and slow-healing cuts. Wear sun layers and reef shoes where appropriate.
French Polynesia's Tainui Atea framework protects an enormous marine area. In Rangiroa, the practical rules are simple: no touching coral, no standing on coral heads, no feeding sharks or rays, no chasing dolphins, and no crowding animals for photos. Choose operators who brief wildlife distance and current discipline clearly.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when pass current is serious. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire and rescue | General emergency | 18 | 24/7 |
| Police or gendarmerie | Police emergency | 17 | 24/7 |
| Medical emergency | Ambulance or urgent medical assistance | 15 | 24/7 |
| JRCC Tahiti | Sea rescue | 16 | 24/7 |
| Centre Hospitalier de la Polynesie Francaise | Major hospital and hyperbaric support in Tahiti | +689 40 48 62 62 | 24/7 hospital |