Dive Review of TOPdive/Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise in
French Polynesia/Fakarava North and South

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TOPdive/Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise: "Great diving in Fakaravaa", Sep, 2014, by Jason Marks, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 8 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 8052.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Some of the best dives I've had anywhere. Sharks: Fleets of black tips, many lagoon white tips, grays and a few of the "banded" or "ghost" sharks. Napoleon wrasse are common, and there are large schools of barracuda, snappers, etc. Currents can be quite strong, and the timing for diving the passes can be tricky. Topdive did an excellent job of getting us to the right spots at the right time and planning the dives for maximum life and variety. When high waves bring a lot of water into the lagoon, the much coveted incoming currents can be reduced or preempted for a day or three. So budget enough time that you can wait out the high lagoon. Coral cover and reef tropicals were in good shape but lacking the kind of diversity you see in the Indo-Pacific.
Websites	TOPdive
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia, Phillipines, Maldives, Caribbean, Micronesia.
Closest Airport	N. Fakarava	Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	79-81°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	29 meter limit for PADI Open and Advanced Open Water divers (one star in the French system).
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Boats are small and can be a bit crowded, but the crew does its best, and there were no problems with the cameras. Water was very short at S. Fakarava, so rinsing was a challenge.

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Dive Review of TOPdive/Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise in French Polynesia/Fakarava North and South

TOPdive/Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise: "Great diving in Fakaravaa", Sep, 2014,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of TOPdive/Pension Havaiki; Motu Aito Paradise in
French Polynesia/Fakarava North and South