Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on November 10, 2023
Ever dreamt of swimming with sharks? The snorkeling spot of Sharks Sandbank, a shallow sandbank located in the north of Moorea lagoon, is one of the best in Tahiti islands for living this unique experience. In a few feet of water, you will swim with dozens of blacktip reef sharks (some of them over 4 feet long) and friendly pink whiprays.
To reach the Shark Sandbank (Le Banc des Requins), you have two main options:
Enter the water directly from your kayak. If you participate in a snorkeling tour, your boat will moor on the sandbank and you’ll simply have to jump in.
The Sharks Sandbank is a sandy area with a depth limited to 3-6 feet/1-2 meters. Close to the channel edging the south of the sandbank, the sand dramatically drops off. Stay out of this area (currents/boat traffic). In case a current occurs on the sandbank (usually a west > east current), don’t let you drift too much to the west.
You only need to put your mask below the surface to see the blacktip sharks and pink whiprays coming and going between the boats.
As sharks and rays tend to swim away if you try to follow them, we recommend you stay still, and they will approach you by themselves. Around 20 sharks can be present at the same time around the sandbank, while stingrays are less numerous (around 5 individuals).
On the western part of the sandbank, the sandy beds are scattered with small rocks and corals, which attract small reef fish such as butterflyfish and damselfish.
Larger creatures, including bluefin trevally, yellowmargin triggerfish and green sea turtles also visit the area. Sea turtles usually only quickly cross the sandbank: if you want to spot them, head to nearby Tiahura Beach, where they abound in the channel.
This is a very popular spot at certain times of day, so watch out for the boats and the other snorkelers.
If you explore this spot by kayak, we recommend you snorkel on the same day the Motu Fareone, located only a few hundred meters from here.
There are no amenities on the spot, located in the middle of the lagoon. After kayaking back to Moorea, you can enjoy a lunch at Hotel Les Tipaniers’ beach bar. If you take part in a day boat tour, lunch will most probably be included. Make sure of it when booking.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
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