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Dive Review of TOPdive/Oceania Cruise Ship - Marina in
French Polynesia/Tahiti,Moorea,Bora-Bora

TOPdive/Oceania Cruise Ship - Marina: "Diving French Polynesia Again February 2018", Feb, 2018,

by Richard E. Heath, SC, US (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 10137 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was our third trip to the French Polynesia Islands –(2001,2013 were two previous – 2013 stayed at the InterContinental Bora-Bora Resort Thalasso Spa for 3 days before returning to Tahiti and embarking on the Paul Gauguin to cruise the islands which is the best way to start a cruise!) Our other two visits to French Polynesia were in July and August -- This visit was in the rainy season and February rainy season lives up to its name!)

Dove on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora-Bora with Top Dive -- I cannot say enough good things as to how well organized and friendly that the folks at Top Dive are -- They coordinate between their island locations very well -- for instance – they knew that I had arranged to do three 2-tank dives on the three islands – and when they were out of my size of a T-shirt I wanted in the Tahiti shop, they checked with their shop in Moorea shop and they handed it to me when I got on the dive boat in Moorea – Jocko was the dive master on the Moorea dive and was great!

Dove on Tahiti on our first visit in 2001 and this time –Dove with Top Dive located at the InterContinental Tahiti where we stayed. Was not impressed with the dive sights either time – This time was better than the 2001 visit – But the water was not that clear due to the rainy conditions – Tahiti was a good warm up to the rest of the diving on this cruise -- saw numerous turtles and a couple of mana rays -- our dive master was the best – Erik was his name

One great thing about Top Dive is that all of their dives are Nitrox at no extra cost -- You will be given Nitrox if you are certified for nitrox or not -- And as long as you are diving the standard air tables built into your computer – this will give you even a better safety factor than just on plain air

The dive masters on all the three Top Dive islands that I dove, were very professional and safety conscious. The boats were plenty spacious and most we had on any boat was 5 divers plus the 2 or 3 folks from Top Dive -- All boats were easy to drop into the water with ladders well designed to get back in the boat.

If you are diving in the French Polynesia Islands – the first place to check with for a dive shop has to be Top Dive! – if they are on an island to which you are going.
Websites TOPdive   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Azores;French Polynesia Islands(Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea);Grand & Little Cayman;Bahamas;Puerto Morelos Mexico;US Virgins; FL Keys;St Martin, Saba.Turks & Caicos
Closest Airport Papeete Getting There Tahiti Air from LAX - then cruise ship

Dive Conditions

Weather windy Seas calm
Water Temp 83-85°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions We were asked not to go lower than the Dive Master
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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.

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