#21134 - 10/14/05 09:16 AM
diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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jantar
Member
Registered: 10/14/05
Posts: 60
Loc: New York
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Planning a honeymoon/dive trip to FP next July/August. Can anyone please tell me how are the diving/weather conditions on the listed islands at that time of year? How would you describe the level of diving (I've got about 100 dives in my log, my fiance ---countless)? How strong is the current in the famed passes? I'm a skinny person...do I have to worry about being carried away by the current way past the rest of the group? Thanks!
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#21135 - 10/14/05 03:35 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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junior
Member
Registered: 01/09/05
Posts: 292
Loc: Seattle
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Hey Jantar,
My wife and I spent the end of July in Rangiroa and Bora Bora this year. I am not a diver, but my impressions of what I saw of the divers below was incredible clarity.
The Rangiroa drift snorkel had clarity of an easy 50 meters all along Tiputa pass. The current was VERY swift on top, but from what I was told it is not as strong down below. The Japanese with their cameras had no problem holding on to rocks to prevent being carried away. Also the dive masters will not let a group break up in the pass. Check out the video Coral Reef Adventures. It is a few years old now and the pass has more fish and coral than it did then.
Bora Bora has excellent visibility in the lagoon and out at the pass. We snorkeled on excursions in between the HBB and the NUI and the visibility was easily 50-60 meters. We also went outside of the barrier reef with the sharks and there was probably 40-50 meter visibility there as well. When we snorkeled around the HBB the visibility was about 30-40 meters, depending on the tide. Hope this helps.
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#21136 - 10/14/05 03:39 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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junior
Member
Registered: 01/09/05
Posts: 292
Loc: Seattle
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Forgot to tell you...Tiputa pass was quite cold and a 1 mil suit was worthless. Pascal and Cosetta provide them to keep track of the snorkelers, but we were blue after 1 1/2 hours. The pass at Bora Bora seemed a lot warmer, but all of the divers we saw had wetsuits.
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#21137 - 10/17/05 08:57 AM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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JarredK3
Member
Registered: 05/13/05
Posts: 83
Loc: New York
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I dived all three locations this past August. I would describe Bora Bora and Moorea as basically beginner to intermediate locations. Water clarity was normally around 100 feet (some of the pass dives went down to 60 feet), current was little to none, depth ranged from 60 to 100 feet and temperatures were upper 70's to 80 degrees.
Diving in Rangiroa I would describe as mostly intermediate but can be advanced depending on how strong the current is at Tiputa and if you shoot the pass. There are some dives that also go down to 130 feet if you want. The viz, clarity and water temp is about the same as Bora Bora and Moorea but the currents at Tiputa if the dive master decides to shoot the pass can be anywhere from 2 - 6 knots. Quite fast. If problems arise and the current is strong, it would be difficult for another diver to try and get to you to help out. You basically have to prepare to fend for yourself until you're out of the pass. A lot of fun, though and the animal life in Rangiroa is amazing.
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#21138 - 10/17/05 11:56 AM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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jantar
Member
Registered: 10/14/05
Posts: 60
Loc: New York
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Thank you! This is very helpful.
Can you also tell me how much does diving cost on these islands? We are hearing $120 for 2 1-tank dives. Is that accurate? How is the quality of boats/personnel at those dive shops? Thanks again.
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#21139 - 10/17/05 09:42 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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Gritz
Member
Registered: 07/12/04
Posts: 61
Loc: California
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We went diving in Bora Bora and Rangiroa this past Dec. BB was my 2nd dive (after my check out dives in California- just got certified before going to FP). If you're an experienced diver, you will have no problems there. As for Rangiora, we did the pass twice. I weigh less than 120lbs and I found it a little difficult at times to "swim" and keep up with the Master Diver. The current was a little more difficult than I expected at times (I did read about it prior to going). It was great going thru the pass though -- no problems there. Again, if you're an experienced diver, it probably won't be too difficult for you. It was an unbelievable experience for me. I would do it over and over again. 
We used Top Dive at BB and Blue Dolphin (?) at Rangiroa (it was the dive place right on the grounds of Kia Ora -- I think it was called Blue Dolphin). We had positive experiences with both dive shops. The boat for BB was perfectly fine and the personnel were great. At Rangiroa, for all four dives we did, we were on a Zodiac. The personnel were fine (but I felt the BB ones were better).
The cost you have is about right. We paid about $120 for 2 1-tank dives at both places. BB may have been just a slight bit more, but pretty close to that rate.
I hope this helps.
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#21140 - 10/24/05 09:26 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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MOB
Member
Registered: 02/26/05
Posts: 90
Loc: Chicago
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Thanks. :Planning the pass dives at Rangiroa, Nuku Hiva, and Moorea. Any suggestions on these are very welcome. Also, will be there in Feb, any ideas about water temp? I'm usually a swim suit and T-shirt diver, even when others are in farmer john's or even 1 mils.
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#21141 - 10/24/05 11:17 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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albertnj
Member
Registered: 04/29/04
Posts: 94
Loc: new jersey
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Jantar,
We were in Bora and Rangi on our honeymoon
last Nov.I dove in both spots and you are in for
an incredible experience.Bora Bora was amazing
but nothing compared to the pass dive in Rangiroa
I was the only one in our group that wore a shorty wetsuit and i was fine.The visibility is
awesome.Be prepared to see what seemed to me like hundreds of sharks.They are everywhere.
We saw dolphin and giant manta rays as well.
We actually spent 4 days in Rangiroa, but 2 were at the Sauvage which is awesome but no diving.If
I ever go back to Rangi,I will stay at least 4 days at the Kia Ora hotel and dive as much as
possible.You can't possibly get sick of it.The
funny thing about it was that I've always been
afraid of sharks but when that 9 foot silvertip
cruised right up to me and just looked at me I
was in complete awe,no fear at all.Really amazing
Enjoy.my wife and I are planning a trip to FP for the spring.I think we are just going back to
Moorea this time.We went to Moorea,Bora Bora and
Rangiroa on our honeymoon but I don't think we will afford that this time but I will be diving in Moorea again.Dont make the mistake I did,bring
a good underwater camera.If you don't own one get one.I used a disposable and mostly just the shallow lagoon shots came out.I am getting one for our next visit.I could cry when I think of the photo ops I missed underwater.
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#21142 - 11/30/05 03:52 AM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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minou
Member
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 45
Loc: netherlands
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Hi MOB, did you get any information about the conditions in february yet? we're also planning to go in feb. to either Rangi or Fakarava, still havent decided which its going to be. anyone out there with pro's or contra's?
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#21143 - 11/30/05 06:27 PM
Re: diving conditions in Rangiroa, Moorea, BoraBora
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e2664f
Member
Registered: 10/11/05
Posts: 54
Loc: las vegas
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We are also going Feb. Did most of you guys see 3mil shorties or full suites. My wife and I get cold. She has a skin and I have a shorty, suggestions or observations?
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