Dive Review of TOPdive/Kia Ora in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa

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TOPdive/Kia Ora: "Tiputa Pass delivers the goods!", Oct, 2018, by craig grube, VA, US ( Sr. Contributor 21 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 10768 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We stayed at the Kia Ora and used the Top Dive outpost on the resort’s property. We stayed in an overwater bungalow at the Kia and could not have been more pleased (full review on Tripadvisor). The property is stunning and we saw small sharks every day from our bungalow deck. We would absolutely stay there again. Top Dive was very convenient and the boat left from their dock and you were at Tiputa pass in 5 minutes. Boats are small inflatables so only take with you what’s going in the water. No rinse tank or table. The surface interval is back at the resort since it’s so close. The dive gear is included in the price so I didn’t feel a need to lug everything, especially with the luggage restrictions on the flight from Papeete to Rangiroa. The rental gear was also in good shape. During surface interval you can use the warm shower and rinse tanks at the Top Dive office and hang your gear there for your next dive. They also have shelves to leave your towel, flip-flops, etc. The diving was great with numerous sharks on each dive, huge schools of fish, dolphins swimming around you, massive eagle rays, and morays. It was everything I had hoped for. The drift dive at 90’ through the pass is a high-speed wonderland. If you don’t have good skills and experience I don’t recommend the deep drift dive and frankly they likely won’t allow you to do it. I would recommend emailing them before you book the trip to see what they will require for you to do the drift dive if it’s a bucket list thing for you as their rules can be somewhat confusing. The dive guides and office staff were friendly and helpful and all my dives were 60 minutes. They strive to limit depths to 60’ unless you are cleared to do the deeper drift dive. They only have 32% Nitrox which is included in the price. The diving is not inexpensive. You get discounts for multiple dives, check their website. Scheduling calls for flexibility. I booked 3 dives over 3 days in advance online. Only 1 of the dives was at the time I booked. I am not sure what their algorithm is but they usually let you know the evening before what time your dive will be. I cant wait to go back as it was amazing. I would stay at Kia Ora and use Top Dive again.
Websites	TOPdive Kia Ora
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	hawaii, tahiti, belize, little cayman, costa rica, florida keys. Turks & Caicos
Closest Airport	Rangiroa	Getting There	Flight from Papeete to Rangiroa. Numerous time options and things ran on time.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, currents
Water Temp	84-85°F / 29-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	60-70 Ft/ 18-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Needed to stay with the dive guide and were limited to 60' for most dives.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	No rinse tank or table on boat as it is a small inflatable with back roll entry. Back at the resort, the office has showers and rinse tanks. They will hand exchange your camera while you are in the water.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By GARY in TX, US at Feb 04, 2020 02:51 EST

Hello, Enjoyed your article very much!!! May I ask your pricing experience on diving multiple days in a row of approx 7 days diving,us there such a thing as economical cost in accommodations and is there economical food pricing in the Island??!? Thanks

By report author: craig grube in VA, US at Feb 04, 2020 19:50 EST

I only did 3 days of diving so would suggest you email the dive operator directly. They do have multiple day discounts on their website. There is nothing inexpensive on the island. It is so remote and everything has to be brought in. It is paradise and paradise doesn't come cheap. I hope you go as it is amazing.

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Dive Review of TOPdive/Kia Ora in French Polynesia/Rangiroa

TOPdive/Kia Ora: "Tiputa Pass delivers the goods!", Oct, 2018,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of TOPdive/Kia Ora in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa