#64509 - 06/27/07 03:27 PM
Diving at Raimiti?
|
Russell10
Junior Member
Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 11
Loc: Dallas, TX
|
I just booked 4 nights in November at Raimiti. I've had some trouble arranging for diving while I'm there though. I am going through a travel agent I have used to FP before and the travel agent was emailing Raimiti directly about setting up some dives. Here is what Florian wrote him:
Bonjour,
We do not have arrangement with diving centres, and do not do transfer to the diving centre located at Tetamanu, especially for diving. Now, when we go to do snorkelling inside the pass there and if they have a scuba monitor at Tetamanu village centre, people can dive there, but the centre is not always open. Note that the diving centre located at the Tetamanu village pension is not open all the time and will not do pick-up as well.
Best Regards,
Florian
This leaves too much to chance for my taste and I'd really like to dive at Fakarava since I'm not going to be able to dive at KOS the other few days. Does anyone know a dive operator there I can contact directly to make firm arrangements or is that possible at all?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64511 - 06/27/07 04:01 PM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Russell10]
|
maimiti
Member
Registered: 04/29/07
Posts: 63
Loc: CA
|
Here you go:
http://tuamotu.plongee.free.fr
I emailed the divemaster Jean Christophe several years ago and he was very nice. He was so helpful with assisting me to choose the right lodging (though we wouldn't be diving), that I brought him a bottle of Jack Daniels at the airport! I have a sense that there is a bit of competition between guesthouses and perhaps even more so on the southern end where Raimiti, Motu Aito, and Tetamanu are located. At the time, there was a question whether the dive situation at Tetamanu was actually legitimate (ie: certified). Why don't you email Te Ava Nui and ask whatever you need to. Looks like Te Ava Nui arranges a dive excursion in the Southern Pass which consists of 3-4 nights at Motu Aito Paradise. Not to dissuade you from staying at Raimiti but if you want to dive in the Southern Pass, sounds like this is the only outfit that will take you. Motu Aito is a fabulous experience. Too bad not more people on the board here can testify, however, I guess this is what will keep it somewhat pristine for the others who know about it. We couldn't get into Motu Aito for our vacation dates, fortunately, there was space at Raimiti. I am looking forward to visiting as judging from the descriptions and looking at their website, I am sure that it is the real thing.
Back to diving though. I suppose you would need to ask Jean Christophe if they would come and pick you up from the Southern end to dive in Garuae (northern pass?). Probably not. Maybe Raimiti would drop you off in Rotoava when they go to the airport to pick people up, but how would you get back to Raimiti at the end of the day. Hmmm.... I guess you'll have to decide how much of a seroius diver you are. From what I've understood by the few people I've spoken with, you can see plenty snorkeling in the southern pass. However, if you are serious you may not want to miss the opportunity for some of the best diving ever and you may need to change where you stay so that you can dive in both passes- maybe consider, Pension Havaiki to dive in the northern pass, and Motu Aito to dive in the Southern. I will not be diving on this trip- but I did ask Florian if he would take us to the southern pass to drift snorkel. He said yes.
Also, consider emailing Maitai Fakarava. The resort there arranges diving. They are located probably half way between the village and Raimiti. Maybe they would be willing to pick you up.
Edited by maimiti (06/27/07 04:36 PM)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64514 - 06/27/07 04:22 PM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: maimiti]
|
DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
|
Russel10, when in November are you going to be there? We will be at Raimiti from the 3rd to the 9th of November. If you're there during our stay, I'll buy beers.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64532 - 06/28/07 09:14 AM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: DenverJoe]
|
Russell10
Junior Member
Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 11
Loc: Dallas, TX
|
Thanks to both of you for your prompt responses. I had understood from an earlier post that the people at Raimiti would arrange for diving. This was a December post:
"The nice people at Raimiti can arrange for diving of the Tumakahoa pass while you are there, which would not be included in the price of staying at Raimiti. Eric will take you to the pass to do your diving, where you will join up with a diving operation. I'm sure the diving operates year around in the Tumakohua Pass. It was operating in mid-November of last year."
I will email Jean Christophe as suggested and see what he says. I've already put a deposit down on Raimiti and, while I'd like to dive Fakarava, I'd probably rather spend the time at Raimiti even if it means I don't get to dive. We've heard so many people on this site rave about it. I expect the snorkeling to be incredible.
Denver Joe, unfortunately we'll be there later around Thanksgiving. I've been reading this site for a couple of years and always appreciated your posts, so your money would be no good with me anyway. Perhaps if you come through Dallas sometime, I'll get to buy the beer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64535 - 06/28/07 10:30 AM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Russell10]
|
Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
|
Is November 22 the US Thanksgiving (ours is in October so I'm never sure when the US one is)? If so, we'll be at Raimiti then (that day's my 50th birthday!). We're at Raimiti from November 19-25. I expect we'll overlap with you, Russell10! My husband has a goatee so you'll recognize us (mind you, we'll probably be either the only other couple there or, at the very least, the only ones approaching 50!).
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64573 - 06/29/07 10:08 AM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Old Wife]
|
Russell10
Junior Member
Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 11
Loc: Dallas, TX
|
Old Wife, we will arrive Raimiti November 23 and leave the 27th, so we'll be there a couple of days with you. I don't think we'll have any problem finding you on the motu. Sorry I'll miss your birthday, so I'll go ahead and wish you a "Happy 50th!" Need us to bring anything?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64575 - 06/29/07 11:15 AM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Russell10]
|
Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
|
Thanks for the early good wishes, Russell10. Yes, we'll have a couple of days there with you (we'll likely be leaving mid-afternoon on the Sunday so that they can get us to the airport & be back to Raimiti before nightfall). No, nothing needed, thanks. I'm just looking forward to celebrating my half-century mark with my husband of over 27 years. It's great posting here where people can understand why we want to stay at a place like Raimiti. When I try to describe it to people, they get this glazed "why would you want to camp like that?" kind of look! One friend even said, "How do you blow dry your hair if there's no electricity?" The good thing about that is Raimiti will remain for those who can appreciate the place.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64645 - 07/01/07 03:37 PM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Old Wife]
|
Carol S
Member
Registered: 02/03/04
Posts: 458
Loc: La Cañada, CA USA
|
When we were at Raimiti, they took us to the South Pass for a snorkel trip..and my husband went to check out the diving opportunities. He made an appointment and all was well...until we walked out and rode the current back in.
We were so astounded and pleased with the snorkeling and all that we could see on the top of the water, and we saw the divers in the pass below us. We decided we would rather take another snorkel and cancelled the dive! The other young couple with us decided they were "too tired" to walk out and snorkel back in but we were undaunted and went out to enjoy another magnificent snorkel experience.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64646 - 07/01/07 05:09 PM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: Carol S]
|
maimiti
Member
Registered: 04/29/07
Posts: 63
Loc: CA
|
Yes, this was the case for me as well. We were there (Motu Aito), just after 9/11. Tickets were $199 r/t out of Los Angeles. I decided that terrorists wouldn't be bombing Tahiti so we took advantage of the opportunity and spent a week at the south end of Fakarava. There was no one in sight at that end of the lagoon for days- until a sail boat came in from the south pass at sunset. Turned out to be a group of sailors from my hometown-SF. We made eachother's acquaintences. They had sailed from SF to Marquesas and on to the Tuamotus. I told them of my apprehension to snorkel in the pass by myself. They said, "Come with us, it's the best around." They had all kinds of high tech equipment with them (underwater video, scuba, etc.). They said snorkeling was just fine. Not knowing any different, I was satisfied. Then again, I've often wished I had my PADI certification to take advantage of the opportunity of being there. It won't be this summer, but maybe next? In the meantime, I'll be content to do the drift- or whatever presents itself as available. Best to go with the "flow" in Tahiti.
Edited by maimiti (07/01/07 05:12 PM)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#64690 - 07/02/07 01:58 PM
Re: Diving at Raimiti?
[Re: maimiti]
|
Russell10
Junior Member
Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 11
Loc: Dallas, TX
|
I suppose I will have to be content with snorkeling in Fakarava. This from Jean Christophe today:
"Hi,
Unfortunatly, we can't arrange diving from Raimiti. Sorry.
Too much far from the Tumakohua pass.
If you want to dive, you must change your pension plan.
I suggest you Motu Aito Paradise and check with us dive & accomodation.
See you maybe soon
best regards
JC"
Drat.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BarbiJKM, hamara, DenverJoe, Poehere
|
6922 Members
15 Forums
10259 Topics
91469 Posts
Max Online: 118 @ 04/08/12 01:59 PM
|
|
0 registered
and 5 anonymous users online.
|
|
|
