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Dive Review of Te Ave Nui/Maitai Dream in
French Polynesia/Fakarava

Te Ave Nui/Maitai Dream, Jul, 2003,

by DAVID SHEM-TOV, NA, UK (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 21 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 599.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 1 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Operation offers essentially two superb dives: high energy pass dive with inbound tide into lagoon, and a wall dive outside the lagoon when the current is outgoing into the ocean. Fairly rough 30 minute rides on hard-bottomed zodiacs to dive sites. (They have one covered and one uncovered boat - and they get to decide which to use.) Caters mainly to French divers, though guides make an effort in English. Generous 12 litre steel or optional 15 litre steel tanks ensure long dives and no need for weight belts. Divemaster Cherie will blend your nitrox on request with advance notice (he uses a rebreather.) I chose to stick to air.

Strongest drift dive I experienced (more than Palau or Conzumel.) I enjoyed the wall dive even better than the pass dive. We launched into the blue. Very dramatic approach to an almost vertical wall. Compared to Rangiroa, less big fish/pelegic life but hard coral in pristine condition.

Unfortunately, poor diving techniques tolerated by divemasters will mean that coral will soon deteriorate. I was shocked to see one diver who decided to propel herself throughout the dive simply by grabbing the coral using gloved hands. (This was not the drift dive - where such practice encouraged here, is questionable anyway.) Although divemaster empathized with my concern, he did not feel there was any point in bringing the matter up with the diver concerned. (I did.)

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving Palau, Cozumel, Red Sea, Indian Ocean
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 26-27°C / 79-81°F Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 20-30 M / 66-98 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions No deco
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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 [None]
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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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