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Raiatea,
French Polynesia offers a variety scuba diving discoveries among the
mythic islands and atolls. The leeward islands in the Society archipelago
are a diver's paradise in the middle of a desert ocean; they are like a
marine oasis with crystal-clear blue and green waters rich with various
coral species and a frantic fish living in the lagoon passes. Diving is
especially secure under the protection of the coral reef that brakes the
big ocean swell.
You will discover these wonderful lagoons with
Hubert Clos, a professional diver, an experienced instructor. Hubert
dropped his anchor in Raiatea in 1993 after spending a few years in the
Caribbean and two years in the Tuamotu at Rangiroa. He is a professional
diver with the best state licenses: CMAS - Federal FFESSM - PADI OWSI
instructor, and a specialist of the nudibranches, these strange shaped and
colored marine animals.
With the help of his assistants, Hubert who owns
the Hemisphere Sub diving center coordinates the dives on over twenty five
sites in the huge lagoon enclosing the islands of Raiatea (the Sacred
Island) and Tahaa (the Vanilla Island). He knows how to approach sharks,
the big predators, and will take you to those natural aquariums, the coral
pinnacles. Hubert will advise you about the best dive according to your
level and interest: a drifting dive in the pass, the visit of a wreck, a
dive either inside or outside the reef Weather
permitting, the dive will take place in one of the five ocean passes (Miri
Miri, Teavapiti, Ceran, Tiva, Tetuatiare) or directly on the coral cliff
on the ocean side either on the East coast, or, in sheltered waters, on
the wreck of the Norby and the aquarium.
Dive Sites
- Miri
Miri 's Napoleon Fish
From 0 to 25 meters depth (O to 100 ft)
West Coast, Ocean Side
Points of interest:
- Napoleon
fish
- White
Tipped Sharks
- Black
Tipped Sharks
- Schools
of Grouper Jack Fish
- Miri
Miri's Pass
From 0 to 30 meters deep (0 to 100 ft)
West Coast; Ocean Side drifting dive with a surface security boat
Points of Interest:
- Crossing
the Pass
- Shoal
of Barracuda
- Jack
fish
- Grey
shark
- Large
Purple Coral Formations
- The
Norsby Wreck
From 0 to 29 meters (0 to 100 ft)
Very interesting spot of a Danish 3 masted ship named 'Norsby' which
sunk on August the 22nd 1900, ten meters away from the Raiatea Pearl Resort.
The hull and most of the rigging are still in good condition (2
masts are still in place)
Points of Interest:
- Back
Coral
- Shells
- 23
Different Species of Nudibranchs
- Lion
Fish
This diving can take place by day and still
better by night.
Cellebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the wreck will take
place this year (2000)
- Ceran's
Pass - The Peaks:
From 0 to 38 meters (0 to 120 ft)
Point of Interest:
The diving starts in the middle of the pass; from the bottom, 50
metres deep, 2 peaks surge up to a depth of 32 meters meeting of
shoals of Jack fish and Barracuda.
- Teavapiti's
Pass
From 0 to 28 mters (O to 100 ft) East Coast, Crossing The Pass,
Drifting.
Point of Interest:
This is one of the richest fish-packed diving spot in the In-wind
Island.
At times some deep-sea spiecies such as Tuna, Manta rays, add to the
interest of this particular spot.
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more general information
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