Diving Tahiti and need help...

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I'm so confused! It's very early in the morning and I cannot even figure out how to make a new post and I am desperate, so I am going to try on this thread (with apologies in advance).

This is the least prepared I have ever been for a trip. I am embarrassed to even let this one out! My bags are packed and by the door. My flight to LAX leaves at 6 pm. I have done almost no research into diving in this region. We were invited to join some friends on a Moorings catamaran for 10 nights and then 2 nights on Papeete. My husband just got OW certified three weeks ago, so absolute beginner. I am Rescue certified and have 100 + dives. We are the only divers on the trip and since we are "tagalongs'" the trip was definitely not planned around the best diving. After reading through these threads, I am wondering if I should leave the dive bag at home and just snorkel (which breaks my heart; I may never make it back to this part of the world). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

We could dive Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea and then from Papeete upon our return. I have figured out which dive operation to avoid, but the reports on the condition of the reefs are scaring me. Dive or no dive???
 
Well, this does look like bad planning or lack of planning :).

The bad news: diving in French Polynesia is WONDERFUL in the TUAMOTUS. These islands are at 1 hour with an internal flight from Papeete or other islands. I went in Polynesia for 20 days and was not recommended to go to the usual islands for diving because the Tuamotu was THE PLACE. So we went to Tikehau, Rangiroa and Fakarava.

The good news :). There must be some valuable diving in the "regular" islands around tahiti. I have never done any but with a bit of research you should find some. The other good news is that the dive operators are used to see divers without their scuba gears because the inter-island planes do not accept huge luggages. So there is no extra charge if you need to rent equipment.

So my advise for you would be: take your snorkel equipment and you dive computor with you. Discuss with people in the islands and choose the best options.

Hope I am helping. HAve a nice vacations. :)
 
Bora Bora and Moorea will be easy diving for newly certified divers - unfortunately far from the best French Polynesia has to offer but at least you can say you dived in FP - lemon sharks and rays at Bora Bora inside the lagoon should give you a nice easy dive with things to see even if the coral is mainly dead from a cyclone a few years ago.
 
I second that inside the lagoon in Bora Bora is pretty decent and fine for beginners. There are a lot of beginner-friendly dives in FP - just do your research and talk to your ops about skill levels. PLEASE do not leave your dive gear at home!!!!! That would be such a shame. That said, snorkeling in Bora Bora and Moorea is fabulous.

Moorea has the best topside activities (in my opinion) - ATV rides up to beautiful view points, rum (I think it was rum?!) factory, pineapple farms, etc. Bora Bora is more relaxing but the crystal clear water means you see gorgeous marine life even from land. The Le Meridien has their own sea turtle preserve / lagoon and it is a must snorkel.

As for diving in these locations, lots for beginners and you will see some excellent stuff. There are a few shark dives (reef and lemon) and lots of sea turtles to be seen. Rangiora and Fakarava can be more advanced, so talk to an op before going out - there are some pretty advanced drifts there. That said, if you can do them comfortably, they're fantastic:)

HAVE FUN! Impossible not to in FP - it is an oasis in the middle of the ocean :)
 
I'm so confused! It's very early in the morning and I cannot even figure out how to make a new post and I am desperate, so I am going to try on this thread (with apologies in advance).

This is the least prepared I have ever been for a trip. I am embarrassed to even let this one out! My bags are packed and by the door. My flight to LAX leaves at 6 pm. I have done almost no research into diving in this region. We were invited to join some friends on a Moorings catamaran for 10 nights and then 2 nights on Papeete. My husband just got OW certified three weeks ago, so absolute beginner. I am Rescue certified and have 100 + dives. We are the only divers on the trip and since we are "tagalongs'" the trip was definitely not planned around the best diving. After reading through these threads, I am wondering if I should leave the dive bag at home and just snorkel (which breaks my heart; I may never make it back to this part of the world). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

We could dive Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea and then from Papeete upon our return. I have figured out which dive operation to avoid, but the reports on the condition of the reefs are scaring me. Dive or no dive???

Dive, he hasn't ever in FP before, he (and you) won't have rangiroa and fakarava to compare to. Our first time was in society islands (first time ever OW diving) and we absolutely loved it! We dove Bora Bora, Huahine and then Tikehau.

Saw our first sharks (other than in pictures, movies, videos, etc) diving in Huahine, the whole experience was amazing.

And the islands are each beautiful in their own right. You are already there I'm sure, so I hope you had fun, I think it would be impossible not to have fun there! In fact, you may be home already!

If so, how did it go? We fell in love pretty much when we stepped off the plane, and we can't stay away.
 
Dive! you may also want to consider diving Moorea rather than out of Papeete as you can get some funky currents around the dive sites in Tahiti where Moorea is more benign, with the added bonus of sailing across the sea of the moon from Papeete to Moorea.

Hope you have a great time.
 
In my personal experience you can dive all passes regardless of certification level, tidal action being the major determinate. Deeper dives are prohibited without proper certification. If deeper dives are what you want get certified to at least PADI Rescue.

---------- Post added May 18th, 2015 at 07:12 PM ----------

Rangiroa and Fakarava are definitely where you want to spend your time diving in FP. I talked to a guide in Fakarava who told me the diving in Bora Bora was awful, and that she had moved to Fakarava to see healthy coral again.
 
After finding out I can get to PPT quite easily with Delta miles I've been looking at a possible trip to Rang/Faka (just need to get a Cap. One Deltamiles card). One issue is me and my son don't eat any kind of seafood so will we starve?? :confused6:

As for the pensions are there any that have 2 adjoining rooms? Most seem willing just to put an extra bed in an already small space, as much as we love our kid (he'll be 16 by then!!!) we need our own rooms. Any recommendations? At least all the French tutoring for our son will come in useful!
 
Can you do beef carpaccio? cannot speak for Fakarava but in Rangi Lili Cafe from what I recall and the other cafe by the pier didn't have a lot other than seafood on the menu. I may be wrong but there were hamburgers at one of the two cafes on some days. I would assume the Matai resort would cater to more international tastes and have a bigger selection. I stayed in pensions and the dinners were all fish although I would almost guarantee the pension owners like those at Tiena and Marie would access some beef and have it frozen on hand if you discussed this with them via email before booking.
 
beef carpaccio with lemon, pepper and spicy olive oil = heaven. I might even go for a French red wine to go with it (i prefer Italian wines :D)
 

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