Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Six Passengers in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa, Polynesia

Six Passengers, Jan, 2006,

by Richard Bruch, NC, United States . Report 2298.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 1 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Rangiroa is an atoll located about an hour by air north of Papeete, Tahiti. Air Tahiti Nui has been cancelling a lot of international flights. The inter-island carrier, Air Tahiti, is excellent and reliable, but will charge for extra baggage weight; for us this was about $130 as we carry our own dive and camera equipment, dive repair supplies, batteries and books. Showing a C card when checking in with Air Tahiti will save money, as will requesting the "circle route" baggage fee if traveling to more than one island.
Six Passengers dive operation in Rangiroa is within walking distance from the Kia Ora which has deluxe overwater air-conditioned bungalows available. Kia Ora has excellent snorkeling, the best we have had anywhere. Six Passengers, located near Tiputa Pass, dives from a zodiak with a maximum of six divers per boat and backroll entry. All dives are led by a competent divemaster. They observe safety precautions but do let the diver breathe down his/her tank.
we used Raie Manta Dive operators 6 years ago, but felt they were reckless and also once had bad air. The best Rangiroa dives are "pass" dives beginning in the ocean and going with what can be a quite brisk current through the pass, ending in the lagoon. Beware: attempting to ride the current the other direction can be fatal. All the creatures and the fishes large and small love the movement and nutrients of the current and are seen in the pass when the current is running in. We saw many sharks, napoleon fish, manta rays, eagle rays,and titan trigger fish. On one dive dolphin came close. And we have seen hammerheads from a distance. Also see many eels, unicorn fishes, various butterfly fishes, many more varieties than in the Caribbean. At Avatura Pass, both last year and this year witnessed a ball of several hundred jack fish. Also have seen African Pompano, this trip seven of them together. This was our third trip to Rangiroa, the diving is world class, not much in the way of soft corals, but great fish life. For dining, we tend to only have breakfast at Kia Ora. For dinners, most restaurants will provide pick-up service. Call them and usually pick up is at 7 pm. We enjoy dining at Vaimario, Chez Josephine and Kai Kai.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Carribean, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef. Withing Polynesia: Manihi, Bora Bora, Nuka Hiva, Moorea, Taha'a
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny,rainy,dry Seas choppy
Water Temp 80-0°F / 27--18°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments Diving from a zodiak so no rinse bucket or protective area for camera. Camera is handed to the diver after backward roll entry. No criticism if diver wanders to get a "good shot"
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 153 dive reviews of French Polynesia and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. Want to see sharks, tropical islands, overwater bungalows? We specialize in planning adventures to French Polynesia.
True Tahiti Vacation
True Tahiti Vacation
was founded by an American Divemaster who lived 20 years in Tahiti. We specialize in highly curated dive vacations to the Islands of Tahiti.
 

Want to assemble your own collection of French Polynesia reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.07 seconds