Hammerhead Point — Fatu Hiva
Dive site
The southernmost island of the Marquesas group, Fatu Hiva, channels deep Pacific swells around its northern headland in a way that aggregates scalloped hammerhead sharks in the 20 to 35 metre range throughout the austral winter. Schools of 20 to 60 individuals have been documented by researchers from the Polynesian Shark Observatory. The site is a submerged ridge that connects two sea mounts, running roughly east to west, with the hammerheads typically appearing at dawn on the upcurrent side. Galapagos sharks and silvertip sharks are resident year-round, and the hard coral on the ridge top is among the healthiest in French Polynesia.
Conditions
Depth
15 to 45 m
Advanced depths
Current
Often strong
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
25 to 40 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
23 to 28°C
5mm full
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Moderate |
Field journal
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