Page 236 - French Polynesia
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he Sharks’ cavern - This dive is best done by experienced you will find yourself in the lagoon which has much more calm
waters and this is where your dive will end.
T divers. Good buoyancy control and scuba diving awareness are
T he Step - This dive has amazing underwater topography: the
important on this dive. The dive is named sharks cavern due to a step, the canyons, and the Motu Nuhi Nuhi. Your dive guide
cavern which is found at about 115 feet. Although it is extremely will choose the best dive path that provides the most marine life
rare to actually witness sharks in the cavern, this is where divers encounters, assuring your maximum comfort and security. Full
go to wait for grey reef sharks to come to them. Grey reef sharks control of your buoyancy is key to enjoying this drift dive.
can be fairly docile and skittish animals who are actually quite
timid around divers. Remaining stationary in the cavern allows the T he Valley - In the entrance to the Tiputa Pass, this is another
sharks the best opportunity to come and investigate divers. This is great site for hammerheads sighting when in season.
where the drift diving begins. Remaining with the group is impor-
tant at this stage as the current can be quite strong. In the calmer T he Wall - This dive takes place along a steep drop-offs of
waters of the lagoon you do your decompression and safety stop broken by faults and rock overhangs, covered with delicate
while viewing the diverse marine life. Drift dive towards the branches of orange and purple soft coral. The caves are home to
lagoon, on the left verge of the Tiputa Pass. In season, even the many species of reef fish, including angelfish, surgeonfish, par-
hammerhead sharks can be seen here, considered the underwater rotfish and giant grouper. The water is clear and deep blue. Expect
giants of Rangiroa. to see scads, tunas, whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, gray
reef sharks and whitetip lagoon sharks.
T he Small Pass - This dive location is for more advanced diver.
The Avatoru pass has two channels that are separated by a tiny T he Windmill - This is a freat dive for divers to witness a lot of
islet at the entrance to the lagoon. On one side it is quite wide and the non-shark species. This dive can feature dolphins, manta
not all that great from a scuba divers perspective. The other side rays, stingrays, tuna, wrasses, and sea turtles. The dive is done out
is much smaller and therefor called the small pass. This small pass of the way of the current with a maximum depth of 82 to 85 feet
features some very strong unpredictable currents. Depth isn’t the
issue at this site. This dive site is considered the most colorful of
the dive sites in Rangiroa. Exciting marine life forms include manta
rays and whitetip reef sharks. After going through the small pass
