Dive Review of
Bora Dive Center/Sofitel Motu in
French Polynesia/Bora Bora

Cozumel, Belize, Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks&Caicos, Florida, Caymans,
Hawaii, Jamaica 

Dive Conditions

Dive in group with divemaster; Turn around at half tank, but could pretty
much suck the tank dry before back on boat.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Bora Bora is a truly beautiful island - lust, with photogenic mountain
looking like Bali Hai.  Nice people, but remember for most English is a 3rd
language, so when you ask a question, the answer you get may have little to
do with what you asked.
  Sofitel Motu was gorgeous - small, very private and romantic, on its own
little island with frequent boat service to Novotel on mainland.  Decent
snorkeling at resort.  Food only OK and expensive, but good restaurants on
Bora Bora.  Food was actually better at the Novotel.
  As for the diving - First, the bad news.  Bora Bora's famous mantas were
only seen in the distance on one dive.  Apparently hotel construction has
driven them from some popular sites.  However, I never saw so many sharks -
black tips on every dive but one, lemons several times.  Also saw:  school
of eagle rays, morays, turtles (friendly), anemone clown fish, lion fish,
amazing variety of reef fish.
  Dive operation had its plusses and minuses.  On the negative side, you
have to wade out to the boat, which is small and has no head.  Boat can
accomodate up to 10 divers, but the one day we had 10 it was crowded. Back
roll entry, easy ladder climb to get back on boat.  They help you back on
boat, set up your gear on second tank.  I was able to keep my gear at the
shop and had my BC and regulator set up boat for first dive of the day. 
Coconut pieces and drinks between dives. Usually about 6.  The general
approach to not touching stuff is much more casual than at most Caribbean
operations - at one point a divemaster picked up a large sea cucumber for
us to handle.  Another broke off pieces of sponge on dead coral to feed
turtles.  On the second dive of my 8-dive week the divemaster had me too
far from the boat and too low on air, and the boat had to come get me. 
After I complained, I got very personal service the rest of the week.
  On the good side, divemasters Patrick and Luiqe were excellent at finding
and pointing out critters and were very attentive.  Luiqe saw that two of
us used a little more air than the rest and shared air with us during the
dives, not because we were that low, but to prolong our bottom time.  He
also had a plastic baby manta hidden in his wet suit - pretty good gag. 
  Overall the coral is not quite as good as the best in the Caribbean, but
the incredible number and variety of fish is certainly among the best I've
seen.  Well worth the 12 hour flight from NY. 

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