#65016 - 07/11/07 02:33 PM
Dive Operation Recommendations
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tambir9
Member
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 210
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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When in Moorea 6 years ago, my husband dove with Top Dive, and while the diving was good, he found the organization too large, meaning, the dive groups were too big, etc. We are looking for recommendations on smaller dive organizations in both Rangiroa (staying at Hotel Kia Ora) and Bora Bora (staying at the Sofitel Beach), catering more to specialty advanced divers (for lack of a better term). Any advice and suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for your input.
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#65038 - 07/12/07 05:44 AM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: tambir9]
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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You can use Kia Ora's dive operation Blue Dolphins.. We never had more than 6 fdivers on any dive we did with them. I hear there's another dive operator just outside the Kia Ora grounds, but I am not familiar with them..
In BB we used the dive operator at the Pearl - Blue Nui - and they were great. Half our dives only included us and the dive master.. However, I'm sure the Sofitel has a dive operator which would be much easier than transporting to the Pearl.. Good luck..
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#65047 - 07/12/07 09:37 AM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: sst]
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ScubaShari
Member
Registered: 10/11/04
Posts: 180
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
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tambir, this doesn't anwser your question, but like your husband we found the same thing with Top Dive.
We LOVE Moorea Fun Dive. Small family owned and operated with up to date gear. If you make it back to Moorea, give them a try.
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#65220 - 07/16/07 05:20 PM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: tambir9]
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YosemiteGirl
Junior Member
Registered: 04/25/07
Posts: 22
Loc: California
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Hi there!
Must husband and I have been to Rangiroa and used the on-site dive shop at the Kia Ora Village -- I think Top Dive might have the contract there but I'm not sure. Our instructor was safety conscious but very stressed out (there were some divers who would not listen to his instructions, which made him have to work much harder to keep us all together and safe once under water).
While there, we also heard very good things about Six Passenger (their selling point is a max of six passengers per boat). Some of the other people staying at the Kia Ora used them and really liked them -- we made a note of it so we could try them next time.
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#65221 - 07/16/07 05:27 PM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: ScubaShari]
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YosemiteGirl
Junior Member
Registered: 04/25/07
Posts: 22
Loc: California
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As for catering to advanced divers, I'd send the outfits you are considering an email well before you arrive to let them know what you are looking for. If they have two boats, they may set one aside for more advanced divers when the currents are running. The diving conditions in pass are fairly advanced at times -- I've heard that some dive outfits won't take you out in some conditions unless you have a certain number of dives under your belt. Diving with someone like that would help ensure fewer bozos on your boat, too. Pascale (the guy at the Kia Ora, which is Blue Dolphin, just double-checked) asked us how many dives we had done -- I'm not sure if he would have let us dive the pass if the number hadn't been high.
In Bora Bora we used the operation at the Sofitel. They are right on the beach, and when we were there it was run by some fun young French guys who had escaped the Parisian rat race. They were very on the ball while still being fun. Political chats and caramel-flavored tea were enjoyed between dive sites. I highly recommend them.
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#65252 - 07/17/07 02:34 PM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: YosemiteGirl]
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tambir9
Member
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 210
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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YosemiteGirl, do you happen to remember the name of the dive operation at the Sofitel?
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#65259 - 07/17/07 03:56 PM
Re: Dive Operation Recommendations
[Re: tambir9]
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YosemiteGirl
Junior Member
Registered: 04/25/07
Posts: 22
Loc: California
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Hi Tambir,
I am not totally positive (we just moved house and all our travel journals are buried in a box somewhere), but I am fairly certain we used "Nemo World." They are the one on the beach just to the right (facing the main island) of the dock where the Motu shuttle drops you off.
We have also heard good things about Top Dive, although we haven't used them ourselves. It seems like their dock area gets tons of manta rays every night, too (we ate there once and spoke with people staying at the resort there -- by the way, the food at Top Dive is fantastic but pricey). There are also Manta Rays reliably at a dive called "Bal des Mantas", which is near to the Nemo World dock.
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