Makemo Atoll - General Info
Where is Makemo Atoll?
Makemo Atoll is one of the largest atoll in the Tuamotus. It lies to the west of Taenga and east of the small atolls of Tuanake and Haiti. It has a population of about 800+ and the village is by the eastern pass.
Entrance Notes and Cautions for Makemo Atoll:
Even though the water is 20 – 30 meters deep, there are coral bombie towers that come within a few centimeters of the surface. A bow watch is a must.
Cruiser Highlights for Makemo Atoll:
A very scenic community with very friendly people and few vehicles. Beautiful anchorage in front of the town. Excellent snorkeling in the pass with lots of fish and a stunning array of vibrant coral. Excellent drift snorkeling for experienced swimmers.
The village has a post office, French bakery, and a supermarket. If the supply ship has just called, then it will be possible to buy fresh fruit and veg. The atoll also has an airstrip.
Position – eastern pass:
16° 33’17″S, 143° 34’22″W
Last updated: February 2023
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Related to following destinations: French Polynesia, Makemo Atoll, Tuamotus
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in early june 2020 we anchored off the village , at Makemo atoll, in the Tuamotus. bad weather had been forecast, and a member of the Police Municipale took the trouble to invite us to moor the boat to the excellent concrete town dock, where one other ketch was moored. We did so, in 3.5M deep wonderfully clear water, with anchor well set ,and 4 mooring ropes,to the dock..about 9 PM, a powerul squall/”Microburst” came through, with gusts over 50 KN from the NNW, pushing us onto the dock,and as the waves in the lagoon got larger, both boats broke mooring lines, and as anchors failed, both boats slewed broadside onto the concrete dock…as both boats pounded the dock, the sound of cracking rending fiberglass was deafening…
ten village men appeared on the dock,in blinding rain, at 11.00pm, and a young Polynesian who knew the lagoon well free dived in awful conditions, and secured ropes to nearby coral heads, allowing the boats to use winches to pull off the dock, and safety…One boat was holed and would probably have been lost, if not for the villagers…
We remained at Makemo for 5 weeks, repairing our dented hull, and enjoyed the friendly , beautiful village, and its wonderful people..We heard the same microburst had put 2 boats onto the reefs at the nearby atoll of Fakarava…”