#73935 - 06/15/08 04:54 PM
King Hammerheads
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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When's the best time of year to see the King Hammerheads. I heard early to mid November is the best. Can anyone confirm this? I also read somewhere that the Giant Mantas school in November at Rangiroa. If anyone knows, please enlighten me, because our entire trip depends on this info.
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#73961 - 06/16/08 12:30 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
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"tamataroa" le grand requin marteau- November to March when they chase the eagle rays, where are you going? Rangi? Tiputa pass, shark cave and hammerhead plateau, what is your diving level? Manta's all year around but largest number July to Nov.
Edited by Poehere (06/16/08 12:32 PM)
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#74128 - 06/19/08 06:41 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Poehere]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Thanks Poehere. Yes, we are going to Rangi for 7 nights, Bora Bora for 6 nights and Tahiti for 3 nights. My diving level is Master Scuba Diver (PADI) and I have dived to 61 metres (200 feet), so I'll pretty much go to where ever the Hammerheads are. The only limit I have is my camera, which is only good for 40 metres. Can you get close to the Hammerheads, or are the exhaust bubbles enough to keep them away?
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#74130 - 06/19/08 07:26 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
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Great! You'd love it! I recommend le Raie Manta club, they (have) worked with Cousteau and the Calypso crew, Mr Jaws, Peter Benchly... LOL and are always called upon for special documentaries (national geographic etc), the founder, Yves Lefèvre has written many books. The hammerhead plateau (appr 40 meters) and the shark cave 30 meters)is just outside of the Tiputa pass (La Caverne de Tiputa)
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#74134 - 06/19/08 08:07 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Poehere]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Thanks, Poehere. I guess we are almost on the same time (albeit a different day). I think I've blogged with you before on another forum that you helped people with translations of songs, etc. If it was you, I'm glad that you are here, because you have a wealth of FP info. Thanks again for this info - I'll definitely be diving with them.
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#74141 - 06/20/08 09:34 AM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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tambir9
Member
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 210
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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If you have that dive experience, you will love Raie Manta. The last dive my husband did with them last Nov was 4 dive masters and my husband (advanced open water). My hubby stayed with Raphael, and the other 3 dive masters went off on their own. They went down to around 180' and swam with the Hammerheads in Tiputa pass. The clarity was so good, that at 120' feet hubby could see the Hammerheads too. The most amazing dive club he has ever had the pleasure to dive with.
The only advice I have is to be careful leaving your stuff with them at their Tiputa pass shack. Last year rats chewed on my husband mouthpiece for his regulator and almost chewed through Raphaels hoses! Pack extra mouthpieces just in case! No real harm done, but a great story!
Edited by tambir9 (06/20/08 09:39 AM)
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#74153 - 06/20/08 08:17 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: tambir9]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Good tip, Tambir9. I have an Aqualung Liberator with the mouthpiece that slots in behind your gums, so I will definitely be picking up a couple of spares before we go. Pity about the depth, though, because my camera is only good to 40 metres (135ft), but if I have to leave the camera behind to get "up close and personal" with the Hammerheads, then so be it. Were you there in late November? Because that's when we are planning to be there - just before the rainy season, but hopefully late enough for the Hammerheads.
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#74161 - 06/21/08 06:09 AM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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tambir9
Member
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 210
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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We were there from the 4th of November to the 11th. They told us the Hammerheads were around, but to see them you had to go deep. My husband just got lucky. Most other divers we spoke to at that time, didn't see them at all. Going later is probably better. But I can tell you diving with Raie Manta, if they are there, you'll find them. Diving with Raphael, you are bound to learn something too. I have never seen anyone who can control their air like he does. Their whole group is great. I'll have to go through our pictures and get them on Kodak gallery, there are some amazing shark photos, and dolphin photos. They(the dolphins) spent 20 minutes playing with the divers one day. Just incredible.
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#74454 - 07/03/08 06:43 PM
Re: King Hammerheads
[Re: tambir9]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Thanks tambir9. Good to hear. I don't have a problem "going deep" (61m or 200 feet is my deepest dive), so I'm even more looking forward to diving at Rangi now. Hopefully I'll get to post a few good photos when we get back.
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