Dive Review of
Paul Gauguin/Cruise Ship Paul Gauguin in
French Polynesia

[Unspecified]

Dive Conditions

[None]  

Overall Rating

There is a reason Radisson Seven Seas "Paul Gauguin" received
Conde Nast's rating of the number one cruise ship in the world and that is
the fantastic six star facilities and service.

They are one of the few small cruise ships that have their own dive program
on board with 2-3 Dive Instructors and a dropdown water sports platform.
Zodiacs with four divers each leave the platform for the outside reef at
different times for students and certified.  They attempt to sort by skill
level. They also will arrange for you to use shore based operations if you
interested in more challenging dives or shark feedings.

The ship cruises at night and anchors in the lagoons at five different
islands for the day this makes it more like a moving hotel rather than a
"cruise ship".  Standard cruise is eight days seven nights.

Of all the islands diving, I would rate Moorea the highest with 10-20
blacktips on each dive as well as turtles and lionfish.  The corals were
pristine. The dive from the ship also does a dive/fin/by the local Shark
feeding and most of the large lemon sharks will come to check you out. 
Next time I will spend four days in Moorea diving and then do the Paul
Gauguin.

There is nothing cheap in French Polynesia you can check out hotel rates,
inter-island airfare and meal prices on the net. I found this to make the
small ship a relative bargain for seeing multiple islands and at least
allowing some diving. I checked a lot of web sites for prices. I found
brownandkeenetravel.com to have the best rates and agent Susan Walsh has
been diving with the ship five times and has a lot of great info and video
to send.

If you can swing it, Dive Moorea first and then do the Paul Gauguin.   The
exceptional food and service on the ship will spoil you for anything after
it.  No tips, liquor in your room and 24hr room service (included). 



 

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