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Dive Review of TOPdive/Intercontinental in
French Polynesia/Moorea

TOPdive/Intercontinental: "Top Dive Moorea from a 35 plus year recreational diver", Jul, 2016,

by Douglas C. Spencer, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 8991.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments I am writing this to share my experience with other divers. It is an excellent operation. I have been an active scuba diver for 35 years with over 1000 plus dives and world wide diving experience. I have noted a few recurring negative observations regarding the Moorea diving experience. I have now dived at this location and with Top Dive 2X and feel very positive about my experience. First-the Top Dive Dive Masters are outstanding in every way. While dive profiles are adhered to, it is due to the wide variance in the divers' experience. The staff are French and and Polynesian and are wonderfully warm and helpful (in my view both of these cultures 'invented' scuba diving. The front office headed by Marie was a beautiful young lady and very friendly and had me set up very efficiently. I was fortunate to dive with Frank multiple times. Frank is an outstanding teacher and was really helpful with new (and experienced) divers. I learned several tips just listening to his observations to other divers. He worked really hard to ensure I was able to see all the available dive sites. He was really patient with new and experienced divers. He is a wonderful guy and very hard working. I was also fortunate to dive with locally raised dive master Matahi. This gentleman has 'serious eyes.' There were only 2 divers on the dive I participated on and we saw sea life and species that I could not believe. I thought for a moment I was in Indonesia. In addition to the usual pelagics, we saw schools of Jacks, shrimp, eels, and some of the larges turtles I ever saw. Finally, I was able to dive with local legend Guillaume. He has been at the shop longer than Top Dive has been in existence. He was extremely knowledgeable and patient. He helped a diver with an ear problem masterfully. The reward for our patience was the magical spotting of more than 8 huge Lemon Sharks. He also has another business and can take families on sunset cruises. I was also fortunate to dive with his lovely spouse and she was a delight to dive with. As far as ocean life, my observations are that the usual Black Tips are everywhere, Lemons can get up to 17 feet and are a regular site. Frank is a brave man and feeds a huge eel with his hands. The eel is like a dog. We were fortunate to go to the Tiki drift diving site 2X and spotted 2 large Grey Sharks. It was whale season and while we did not spot any, we gave it a million dollar effort. Also of note, the coral seems to be making a nice comeback from bleaching damage. There are a lot of macro sitings and the dive guides have great eyes for helping recreational divers. I intend to repeat this location and would recommend it as an excellent family land based dive operation. Next time I intend to combine it with Top Dive Fakarava.
Websites TOPdive   Intercontinental

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Pacific/Carribean/South America/Channel Islands/French Polynesia/35 years
Closest Airport Moorea Getting There Pappete to Moorea

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm, surge
Water Temp 77-78°F / 25-26°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 70-300 Ft/ 21-91 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Dept limits and time. All reasonable.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments I am not a photographer. All photographers seemed very satisfied.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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