About The Step
The Step is an advanced to expert-level dive site located in the middle of Rangiroa's Tiputa Pass, specifically on the ocean side. This deep dive ranges between 45 and 55 meters (147 and 180 feet), making it suitable only for highly experienced divers. The site is particularly famous during the months of January, February, and March, which mark the season for large great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran). Divers frequently encounter these majestic predators, along with schools of eagle rays. The depth and strong currents demand excellent dive skills and experience in managing challenging conditions. One of the unique aspects of The Step is the opportunity to witness large aggregations of stingrays, which gather in unison to deter attacks from hungry great hammerheads. This creates a spectacular natural drama unfolding in the deep blue. The dive typically begins in the ocean and concludes with a drift into the lagoon, similar to other pass dives in Rangiroa, offering a thrilling and unforgettable encounter with some of the ocean's most impressive inhabitants.
Highlights
Deep wall diveGreat hammerhead shark seasonEagle ray crossingsStingray aggregationsChallenging current conditions
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Off-Season
May – Oct (Dry Season)
Best visibility up to 40m. Humpback whales Jul–Nov. Shark wall at Fakarava peaks Jun–Jul (grouper spawning). Ideal conditions.
Feb – Apr & Nov (Transition)
Improving/declining conditions. Still good diving, occasional rain. Fewer tourists, good value.
Dec – Jan (Wet/Cyclone Season)
Peak wet season with reduced visibility, rough seas possible. Cyclone risk. Some operators still run trips to Rangiroa and Fakarava.
Dive site facts: The Step
- Depth
- 45–55 m
- Current
- Ripping
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Expert
- Dive type
- Wall, Reef
- Region / port
- French Polynesia
- Coordinates
- 15.0315° S, 147.7408° W
Conditions & Currents
Very strong, ripping currents can run here; only experienced drift divers should dive this site. Dive profiles here run between roughly 45 and 55 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for expert divers. It can be dived from a liveaboard or a day boat, depending on where you start the trip. Because the flow can pick up quickly, drift profiles, a surface marker buoy and a tight group are standard practice here, and the crew's briefing always overrides any general description.
Why dive The Step from a liveaboard?
The Step is one of French Polynesia's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include The Step on their French Polynesia itineraries.
Liveaboards diving The Step
These liveaboards may visit The Step on selected itineraries, the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Aqua Tiki II
French Polynesia
8 guests
Aqua Tiki III
French Polynesia
10 guests20 m
Dive sites similar to The Step
Same character, same waters, six more sites divers love for the exact same reasons.Compare seasons, access and liveaboard routes, then pick the site that fits your trip best.
© EsriMaxar, Earthstar, GIS
Agincourt Reef
Australia
Agincourt Reef sits on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, roughly 60–72 km off Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, at the southern end of the true ribbon reefs that run…
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Dayboat
- Depth
- 2–20 m
- Theme
- Reef / Wall
Ahe Atoll, a remote and authentic destination in French Polynesia, offers a dive experience deeply intertwined with its local pearl farming community.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 5–22 m
- Theme
- Channel / Drift
© EsriMaxar, Earthstar, GIS
Alacrity Shoal
Fiji
Alacrity Shoal is a premier dive site in Fiji, renowned for its spectacular drift diving opportunities and rich marine biodiversity.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 12–40 m
- Theme
- Drift / Seamount
Alibaba is a renowned drift dive located within the Garuae Pass in northern Fakarava, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 5–30 m
- Theme
- Reef
© EsriMaxar, Earthstar, GIS
Aliko Reef
Micronesia
Aliko Reef is a prominent dive site within Yap, Micronesia, characterized by a captivating underwater topography that blends a mini-wall with an expansive coral plateau.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Mild
- Access
- Dayboat
- Depth
- 6–15 m
- Theme
- Reef / Wall
© EsriMaxar, Earthstar, GIS
Amity Point
Australia
Amity Point is a popular shore diving destination located at the northwestern tip of North Stradbroke Island, within the protected waters of Moreton Bay.
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Shore / dayboat
- Depth
- 5–15 m
- Theme
- Reef