Rota Swimming Hole

The Rota swimming hole is a natural basin in the coral shelf on the island's eastern coast where the reef takes the swell and leaves the pool inside calm and clear enough to snorkel, with fish moving in and out with the water. The rock around is bare raised coral. Access is a short walk down from where the road ends and there is nothing built at the site. Rota's eastern coast is entirely raised coral cliff, so a usable pool anywhere along it is unusual.

What's there

• The pool - the basin in the shelf holding calm clear water.
• The reef beyond - the surf breaking outside the pool.
• The fish - the species moving in and out with the water.
• The coral shelf - the bare raised limestone around the basin.

When to go

December to June is the drier season and calmest. Low tide with small swell is when the pool works. Big swell makes the shelf dangerous.

Practical notes

The shelf is dangerous in swell. The coral is sharp and shoes are essential. There are no facilities.

Nearby

Teteto is nearby, and Songsong is west.