Instant Reader Report
on Te Ave Nui / Maitai Dream in
Tahiti and French Polynesia / Fakarava on
2003/07
by
DAVID SHEM-TOV , NA, UK
Report Number 030815052711866

 Palau, Cozumel, Red Sea, Indian Ocean 

Dive Conditions

No deco  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Operation offers essentially two superb dives:  high energy pass dive with
inbound tide into lagoon, and a wall dive outside the lagoon when the
current is outgoing into the ocean.  Fairly rough 30 minute rides on
hard-bottomed zodiacs to dive sites.  (They have one covered and one
uncovered boat - and they get to decide which to use.)  Caters mainly to
French divers, though guides make an effort in English.  Generous 12 litre
steel or optional 15 litre steel tanks ensure long dives and no need for
weight belts.  Divemaster Cherie will blend your nitrox on request with
advance notice (he uses a rebreather.)  I chose to stick to air.

Strongest drift dive I experienced (more than Palau or Conzumel.)  I
enjoyed the wall dive even better than the pass dive.  We launched into
the blue.  Very dramatic approach to an almost vertical wall.  Compared to
Rangiroa, less big fish/pelegic life but hard coral in pristine condition.

Unfortunately, poor diving techniques tolerated by divemasters will mean
that coral will soon deteriorate.  I was shocked to see one diver who
decided to propel herself throughout the dive simply by grabbing the coral
using gloved hands.  (This was not the drift dive - where such practice
encouraged here, is questionable anyway.)  Although divemaster empathized
with my concern, he did not feel there was any point in bringing the
matter up with the diver concerned.  (I did.)  

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