website. I had heard about the Tiputa pass before, never thought much about going to French Polynesia, but his pictures and some youtube videos got my attention. So I contacted him and he offered all a CCR diver can dream off: Full Rebreather support and private diving.
Found good airfare and luggage allowance on Air Tahitiand booked the "Maitai" in Rangiroa. Fly from Los Angelas LAX either in the afternoon or take the redeye. If taking the afternoon flight, you'll have to stay overnight in Tahiti, while the redeye connects the same morning with Air Tahiti.
So we packed our two Evolutions into boxes and off we went. First with American Airlines to LA and then Air Tahti Nui to Papeete/Tahiti. The regional Air Tahiti has lower weight allowance, but divers can take extra with certification. On all flights not any problems with the Rebreathers (no tanks, no sofnolime).
The Maitai is a nice little resort with Polynesian style bungalows on the lagoon side near the airport. There are couple of good restaurants and a "supermarket"in walking distance. Rangiroa is by far not as pricy as Tahiti or Bora Bora.
Patrick met us after arrival and we discussed our dive plan for the next couple of days. Next morning he picked us up and we went to his house on the beach, right next to the "6 passengers" dive shop.
They work very well together.
Patrick has some tables on his terrace for setting up the gear and a place for washing outside. He's got one Evolution and two Megalodon rebreathers for training and rental, a booster, sofnolime, Oxygen, Helium and a number of 2,3 ltr and bailout tanks. All well organized
After setup and check, we'll walk over to the dive shop where boat and driver are waiting for us. The 6 passengers is a nice setup, very friendly with 3 inflatable boats, that do the job for the kind of diving. The boat ride is only 5 minutes.
The main dive site is the Tiputa pass. The dive plan depends, if the current is running into or out of the lagoon. The pass has an estimated population of about 500 Grey Reef sharks. The best place to watch the show is right at the edge on the entrance to the channel. The bottom drops from about 200ft to the deep.
The dive always starts there. You just sit around 170ft (50m) and watch the show(and your computer of course). A gigantic school of Jacks is swimming in the current
and countless Sharks and Tunas change from swimming with them to charging them in a combined attack every couple of minutes. In between you'll see big Napolean wrasses,
Manta and Eagle rays, Turtles, Dolphins and all kinds of other Pelagics passing by.
This can compare easy to "Darwins Arch" in Galapagos, but clear and warm water.
Once you accumulated enough TTS start your way up, depending on current. If inbound, take the ride through the pass. With outbound current dive along the outer reef.
Wherever you go, the show will continue. The "icing on the cake" are usually the resident Dolphins and Mantas that like to pay divers visit while ascending.
We also did one dive at the Avatoru pass that is shallower and has a small population of Silver Tip sharks and a lot of beautiful coral. Gives you a nice break.
Did not do any deeper diving this time, but we'll be back for that.
We're planning a group trip some time next year.
Rangiroa is a great place for divers, the second largest lagoon in the world,
but the "main island" only 6 miles long and 900 ft wide.
About 2000 people live there, very friendly and safe.
pictures courtesy Patrick Plantard.
Videos at our YouTube channel.
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