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Aerial view over deep blue ocean, a white line of surf on the barrier reef, two wooded islets and a turquoise lagoon, with the main island behind — Wallis Island (Uvea)

Wallis Island (Uvea) · Wallis and Futuna · Reef

Anchor of Captain Samuel Wallis

The verified anchor from Samuel Wallis's 1767 expedition

Area photo: Anna Vinet · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Anchor of Captain Samuel Wallis is a deep historic site off Wallis, on the Anchor Plateau, where the anchor from his 1767 expedition rests on the seabed. That voyage made the first European contact with the islands, and the anchor is the reason advanced divers make the descent.

Also known as Anchor Plateau.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Anchor of Captain Samuel Wallis: typical dive to 42 m (to 138 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit42 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Wallis Island (Uvea) and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive goes down to the seabed at 42 m (138 ft), where the anchor rests. Reaching that depth is a technical challenge for advanced divers, and the reward is a tangible piece of Pacific exploration history lying on the bottom.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Anchor of Captain Samuel Wallis
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Wallis Island (Uvea): Diving runs all year; the sea is warmest in March and April at about 30 °C and coolest in August near 28 °C.

Sources

  1. 101 Best Things to Do in Wallis & Futuna — WallisandFutunaPocketGuide.com
  2. Wallis Island — Wikipedia

More dive sites in Wallis Island (Uvea)

Cave & cavern

Lava Tunnel

A 100 m lava tube from the island's volcanic origins

to 18 mintermediate

Drift

Passe Avatolu

Barracuda and trevally circling divers in the current of the west-coast pass

to 20 madvanced

Lagoon

Potat de Caroline

Coral bommies that grow larger the further the route goes

5–15 mbeginner

Wreck

US WWII barges

Wheelhouse dials still visible on 1944 US military barges

to 42 madvanced

Similar dives elsewhere

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Gab Gab Reef

Guam · Guam

Stairs down to a harbour reef that steps out to a 37 m drop-off

3–37 mintermediate

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Golden Dream

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Coral heads from 3 m to 36 m, with swim-throughs and undercuts

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Anau

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