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Dive Review of TOPdive/Kia Ora in
French Polynesia/Rangiroa

TOPdive/Kia Ora: "If you like swimming with lots of sharks, this is the place to be!", Mar, 2017,

by Christine Nidd, WA, US ( 2 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 9725 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 2 stars
Snorkeling 1 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Fantastic for swimming with lots of sharks, especially if you are comfortable with current. The best sightings occur is very strong current. As long as you are comfortable drifting along and controlling boyancy, it's fantastic! Something to keep in mind is there is really only one dive site, so it can be very repetitive. If I were to do it again, I wouldn't stay on just the one island. Would have been better to do 2-3 days max and change islands. The overwater bungalows were worth the extra money, but don't leave anything behind! There is nowhere to buy anything - we couldn't even purchase sunscreen (which I could swear I packed). Very close encounters with spotted eagle rays, manta rays, hammerheads, silver tip and black tip and white tip sharks, silky sharks, dolphins who come right up to see you, and even the odd tiger shark. The water is so warm you don't even need a 3mm shorty!
Websites TOPdive   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Fiji, Indonesia (Wakatobi), Honduras (Roatan), Phillipines (Anilao), Hawaii (Maui & Kona), Belize, Mexico (Cozumel)
Closest Airport land in Fiji, then small plane to Rangiroa & a short drive Getting There many flights

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas currents
Water Temp 87-88°F / 31-31°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 80-100 Ft/ 24-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions You pretty much need to dive with nitro - you go right to the bottom at about 90 feet and stay there for the length of the dive. You don't want to be at a different depth than your dive group or you will quickly be separated.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 1 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Great arena for black & white photos. Used almost exclusively ambient light. Need to be at the ready as subjects can be here and gone in seconds.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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