Dive Review of TOPdive/Maitai Rangiroa in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa

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TOPdive/Maitai Rangiroa: "Great Advanced Diving Destination", Feb, 2023, by Gail King, FL, US ( Sr. Contributor 28 reports with 25 Helpful votes). Report 12378 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	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Wish we'd started going here years ago. French Polynesia was promoted for the sharks which are there but it offers so much more that was never mentioned. Diving at Rangiroa is all about big stuff & tropical fish. There will be a large variety of tropical fish & an occasional turtle & large morays along the reef. Then head out in the blue for friendly dolphin interaction which seemed to be the main reason most divers were drawn to Rangiroa. Interacting with these friendly dolphins was a very special diving experience. Dolphin interactions occurred on 5 out of our 21 dives. However, we saw dolphins pass by on most dives. Then you will always end up in Tiputa Pass where you will see different things as the current takes you thru the pass so there is variety with each & every dive which might include reef, black tip, hammerhead, tiger sharks + eagle & manta rays, & large schools of fish. The dives are always based on the direction of the current thru the pass which the guides know very well. We stayed at Maitai Rangiroa which was on the lagoon with restaurant/bar/pool & individual Polynesian style bungalows at water's edge. Top Dive provided shuttle service for diving. This dive trip was not a package deal but easily booked online. This was a great dive trip & we hope Top Dive will have their nitrox compressor repaired for our return next Feb.
Websites	TOPdive
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia, Palau, Fiji, Philippines, Australia, Galapagos, Socorro, Hawaii, Bahamas, Caribbean, Cuba, PNG
Closest Airport	Tahiti/Rangiroa	Getting There	Air Tahiti Nui from LAX thru Tahiti to Rangiroa
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, surge, currents, no currents
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay with dive guides & follow their lead thru the pass due to changeable currents. Let guide know when you reached 1000psi.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 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	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	I no longer use a camera but my dive buddy has a Go Pro set up & she had no problem at all.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of TOPdive/Maitai Rangiroa in French Polynesia/Rangiroa

TOPdive/Maitai Rangiroa: "Great Advanced Diving Destination", Feb, 2023,

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):

Dive Review of TOPdive/Maitai Rangiroa in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa