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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 · Drift · Channel & pass · Reef

Passe Avatolu

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

Area photo: Anna Vinet · CC BY-SA 4.0

Passe Avatolu is the western entrance to the Wallis lagoon, a reef pass on the west coast that is dived only on weekend trips outside the lagoon. It is a current dive, and divers come for the schooling barracuda and trevally that hunt in the flow and for the coral canyons the pass cuts through the reef.

Also known as Avatolu Pass, Avatolu.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Passe Avatolu: typical dive to 20 m (to 66 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit20 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

13.3106° S, 176.2742° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The pass drops to about 20 m (66 ft), and strong currents sweep through it. Coral formations thread through canyons and deep cracks in the reef, and each turn in the canyons opens a new view. Schools of barracuda and trevally hunt in the flow and swirl around the divers, and the current-rich water draws in larger pelagic species.

Marine life and season

  • Barracuda
  • Trevally & jacks
Month-by-month season rating for Passe Avatolu
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.

Know before you go

  • Strong currents sweep through the pass.

Questions divers ask

When can Passe Avatolu be dived?+

Only at weekends, when the large boat from Halalo goes outside the lagoon to the passes; weekday boats stay inside the lagoon.

Sources

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

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