Dive Review of
Six Passengers in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa, Polynesia

Carribean, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef.  Withing Polynesia: Manihi, Bora Bora,
Nuka Hiva, Moorea, Taha'a

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

Diving from a zodiak so no rinse bucket or protective area for camera. 
Camera is handed to the diver after backward roll entry.  No criticism if
diver wanders to get a "good shot"  

Overall Rating

Rangiroa is an atoll located about an hour by air north of Papeete, Tahiti.
 Air Tahiti Nui has been cancelling a lot of international flights.  The
inter-island carrier, Air Tahiti, is excellent and reliable, but will
charge for extra baggage weight; for us this was about $130 as we carry our
own dive and camera equipment, dive repair supplies, batteries and books. 
Showing a C card when checking in with Air Tahiti will save money, as will
requesting the "circle route" baggage fee if traveling to more
than one island.
Six Passengers dive operation in Rangiroa is within walking distance from
the Kia Ora which has deluxe overwater air-conditioned bungalows available.
Kia Ora has excellent snorkeling, the best we have had anywhere.  Six
Passengers, located near Tiputa Pass, dives from a zodiak with a maximum of
six divers per boat and backroll entry. All dives are led by a competent
divemaster.  They observe safety precautions but do let the diver breathe
down his/her tank. 
we used Raie Manta Dive operators 6 years ago, but felt they were reckless
and also once had bad air. The best Rangiroa dives are "pass"
dives beginning in the ocean and going with what can be a quite brisk
current through the pass, ending in the lagoon. Beware:  attempting to ride
the current the other direction can be fatal. All the creatures and the
fishes large and small love the movement and nutrients of the current and
are seen in the pass when the current is running in.  We saw many sharks,
napoleon fish, manta rays, eagle rays,and titan trigger fish. On one dive
dolphin came close.  And we have seen hammerheads from a distance.  Also
see many eels, unicorn fishes, various butterfly fishes, many more
varieties than in the Caribbean.  At Avatura Pass,  both last year and this
year witnessed a ball of several hundred jack fish.  Also have seen African
Pompano, this trip seven of them together.  This was our third trip to
Rangiroa, the diving is world class, not much in the way of soft corals,
but great fish life.  For dining, we tend to only have breakfast at Kia
Ora.  For dinners, most restaurants will provide pick-up service.  Call
them and usually pick up is at 7 pm.  We enjoy dining at Vaimario, Chez
Josephine and Kai Kai.  

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