Scuba in and around Tahiti?

[Maureen4]

I'm going on a Tahiti cruise in August and would love to hear from some people where the best dives are and what company they used.

 

Thanks

 

Maureen

[spot on the map]

A bit more information is needed from you to completely help you out. But here’s what we can offer you as our experience goes. We were aboard the 10 day Tahitian Princess, a great cruise by the way. The diving was limited on board from the shore desk but we did do the night dive in Bora Bora. The boat was way overcrowded and difficult to suit up and check out our gear in the dark. We spent 4 days in Bora Bora pre cruise and dove with “Bora Bora Diving Center” booked through our hotel. That was a fine experience but the dive sites were lacking in fish life. They do a very popular “Shark Dive” we opted out on that dive, been there done that in the Caribbean. If your itinerary includes Rarotonga in the Cook Islands we hooked up with “The Dive Shop” reached them via e-mails on board the ship. They met us at the tender and we had a fine time with 2 good dives. The do have a vary different style boat, it was more like an over sized wave runner, but id did the job and meets their needs for their coast line.

We hope this help answers some of your questions, but lets be honest, your going to Tahiti after that nothing else matters.

[Maureen4]

Thanks for the info. We too are going on the 10 TP cruise. Sounds like the same ports.

[biensur]

We sailed the Tahitian last May - I am pining to return.

 

We had some excellent dives - Bora Bora with Top Dive - two tanks in the morning Tapu and Toopua, fabulous sites, both the corals and the fish/sea life. I still drool remembering it.

 

Moorea - Again with Top Dive - afternoon dive due to evening flight home the following day - went to Opunohu Canyons, incredible sharks and rays. Corals not as spectacular as Bora Bora, but awesome none the less.

 

We did not dive in Papeete - told it wasn't Tahiti's finest, went snorkeling in Rarotonga - incredible, you did not need to dive to experience what we did.

 

In Raiatea, some dove, but we went with Stephan on his motu picnic and snorkeled with rays, turtles and sharks. To die for!

[Maureen4]

Thanks for all the info. Do you remember where you snorkeled in Rarotonga?

[biensur]

We took the first tender off the ship. Walked to the main road and turned left. About 1/4 mile down the road was a little Suzuki jeep rental place (we had previously booted Scootcars, but the guy didn't show on the dock). For $50 we got a great little jeep. We went left out of the parking lot and drove at least 5 miles. On the right hand side of the road is a little place called Fruits of Rarotonga. Its a little cafe/house. Directly opposite on the left hand side is a small pullover/parking area. This is noted in Moon's guide as the best snorkeling in the island. Go into the cafe, have a scone and tea and pay the dollar or so for the bread to feed fish. The older lady there was really kind and held our bags for us. Just walk into the sea. You will see the dark patched in the water. These are the reefs. The fish, blue, green, purple lipped clams, oysters (yes we found one with a misshapened pearl) corals are amazing. Feed the fish, you will have 100s swimming with you. Look for the neon blue starfish - I'd never seen anything like this before!!

 

For more info - go to my review on the reviews section of this board - it is dated 5/05.