Amanu is a medium sized atoll with a small village (200 people according to the mayor). It is insofar special, as a wide reef just south of the village forms a nice anchorage that is protected in all directions except from the S and SE.
Yesterday we visited the cute little village (with a not so cute rubbish dump nearby from where plastic is blown all across the island) and took a look at the pass at its wildest. It looked like something you might want to attempt in a kayak if you’re into whitewater rafting, but certainly not with a sailboat.
We asked some boys who were hanging out nearby and they claimed that slack water would be an hour later. We came back in wetsuits an hour later and really, the pass was smooth, so we snorkeled both sides and marveled at huge schools of unicorn fish and some sharks.
