Also referred to as "The Pink Sand Island," the atoll is located just a few miles west of Rangiroa. Tikehau is a pristine world where fish seem to outnumber the residents one-billion-to-one, which accounts for its popularity as a place for scuba divers and snorkelers. The village of Tuheiava is an important center for lagoon fishing that supply the markets of Tahiti and the village of Maiaia is a producer of copra. The atoll is also home to numerous bird colonies, including the Isle of Birds.