Its lagoon is gigantic (40 miles long and 20 miles wide, a depth up to 150 feet), communicating with the pacific ocean by the Avatoru and Tiputa channels. Through these flows a phenomenal quantity of water from the ocean into the lagoon and vice versa ; following the tides are hordes of fish, jacks, tuna, barracuda, manta rays and eagle rays, turtles, dolphins etc. A short distance out, the reef drops to a depth of 1200 meters.

During six hours, the incoming current carries the clear water of the ocean into the lagoon. Ideal for a drift dive, one can see schools of sharks, squadrons of eagle rays, or maybe a great hammerhead cruising with the schools of fish.

Six hours later, the lagoon empties itself through the passes to the ocean. For a better visibility, one may dive on the outside reef next to the pass. You will find small and big fauna: schools of jacks, barracudas, manta rays, as well as several species of sharks, and numerous pelagic fish.

Although Rangiroa always has divable sites in any weather, the average conditions are not for the inexperienced. The ocean normally has a moderate swell near the passes with a 5 knot current entering in rhythm with the rise and fall of the tide.

Motu Fara : 1) moray eels point, 2) the Mahuta point: convergence of two submarine channels where considerable sea life aggregates : barracuda, jack, surgeons, grouper, etc.

Tiputa Pass, 3 different areas: 1) the wall, 2) the barracudas point, 3) the sharks point.

The Nuhi Nuhi motu or the Aquarium: snappers, barracudas, rays, nurse sharks, multicolored corals.

The Kia Ora Resort has an excellent dive operator on premises, the Blue Dolphin Diving Center.   They usually schedule a morning and afternoon dive in Tiputa pass, depending on conditions.

Blue Dolphins Diving Center
bluedolphins@mail.pf
BP141 Avatoru Rangiroa 98775
FRENCH POLYNESIA
tel/fax (689)960-301
www.bluedolphins.jp ( Japanese )
www.bluedolphinsdiving.com