The Tuamotus were the first place I really understood what an atoll is — a thin ring of sand and coral around an enormous lagoon, with the open ocean on the other side. Norm and I came mainly to snorkel, and the Tuamotu Pass let us link a few atolls without backtracking. These stops are flat, bright and quiet, which is a real change from the Society Islands. The atolls a pass covers can change, so we confirm the current details with Air Tahiti before booking.
Rangiroa, the big lagoon
Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls anywhere, and its passes are famous for drift snorkelling with the incoming tide. We watched dolphins work the Tiputa pass and spent the rest of our days in the water. It's the easiest Tuamotu stop to reach and a good place to start if atolls are new to you.
Fakarava for the diving
Fakarava is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and its southern pass is one of the best-known dive sites in the Pacific for sharks. Even sticking to snorkelling I saw more reef life here than almost anywhere. If you dive, this is the atoll I'd build the trip around — and I'd book those dives ahead, since the small operators fill up.
Tikehau for a quiet finish
Tikehau is smaller and slower, known for pink-tinged sand and a lagoon full of fish. We used it as a wind-down stop after the busier diving days on Fakarava. Because flights between atolls aren't daily, I always check the schedule when planning the order, and I leave a buffer before the flight back to Tahiti.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to dive to enjoy the Tuamotus?
Not at all. We did most of our exploring snorkelling from the shore and on short boat trips, and the lagoons are calm and clear. Diving adds a lot on Fakarava, but it isn't required to make the trip worthwhile.
How many atolls can I link on one trip?
Two or three is realistic on a one-to-two week trip, since flights between atolls aren't daily. We plan the order around the schedule rather than assuming we can hop whenever we like.
Is the Tuamotu Pass operated by the airline?
No. Air Tahiti operates the inter-island flights, and the Tuamotu Pass is the multi-island flight pass we set up for travellers through Far & Away Adventures.
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