Question Fakarava North Dive Shop Recommendation

[DivingChipmunk]

Hello,

We are planning a diving trip to French Polynesia (Rangiora and Fakarava) in December and would like to get some recommendation for a dive shop in Fakarava.

We will be staying in the North and dive with a shop in North Fakarava, hoping to do a day trip to the South Pass.

Among the following dive shops, which one would be more likely to offer a day trip south? We understand that there is a minimum diver number required.

- O2 (min diver 4?)
- Top Dive (min diver 5)
- Kaina Plongee

We will have 6 dives days in Fakarava, Dec 27- Jan 1. Will that be enough time for a potential window for a Day Trip South? We understand that it will depend on weather and how many other divers sign up.

Any wisdom and experience to share? Thanks for your advice.

 

[Manuel Sam]

I've always done my diving with Kaina. Can't speak for Top Dive but I hear that O2 is also very good.

I believe that Kaina also requires a minimum of 4 to go south. I don't think any one of them is more likely to offer it than the others.

As you already observed, it is about how many others will go and the weather. But it is also whether the tides are right. The point of going south is to dive the pass with the incoming to see the wall of sharks.

On my last trip this past December, my group of 4 had planned at least one day of diving the south. On our very first day, the owner of Kaina, Vincent, came to pick us up and said "We are going South - do you wanna go?" Ummm, sure!!!! It ended up being the only day were were able to do it in the 8 days we dove there because the tides were not right the rest of the days. We also had a couple of days that were really choppy even inside the lagoon due to strong winds, so the ride back to and from would have been rough.

I think that when you contact the operator, they may not be able to predict weather or if there will be enough divers willing to go this far in advance, but they might be able to at least tell you if the tides will be right to go south on your dates.

 

[bathbiggles2]

Hello,

We are planning a diving trip to French Polynesia (Rangiora and Fakarava) in December and would like to get some recommendation for a dive shop in Fakarava.

We will be staying in the North and dive with a shop in North Fakarava, hoping to do a day trip to the South Pass.

Among the following dive shops, which one would be more likely to offer a day trip south? We understand that there is a minimum diver number required.

- O2 (min diver 4?)
- Top Dive (min diver 5)
- Kaina Plongee

We will have 6 dives days in Fakarava, Dec 27- Jan 1. Will that be enough time for a potential window for a Day Trip South? We understand that it will depend on weather and how many other divers sign up.

Any wisdom and experience to share? Thanks for your advice.

Hi
See my post on Kaina and Dive Spirit. I would avoid them after that.

Top Dive were good and arranged min 5 people to go south on the day we wanted.

Good luck and have a great time.

 

[DivingChipmunk]

I've always done my diving with Kaina. Can't speak for Top Dive but I hear that O2 is also very good.

I believe that Kaina also requires a minimum of 4 to go south. I don't think any one of them is more likely to offer it than the others.

As you already observed, it is about how many others will go and the weather. But it is also whether the tides are right. The point of going south is to dive the pass with the incoming to see the wall of sharks.

On my last trip this past December, my group of 4 had planned at least one day of diving the south. On our very first day, the owner of Kaina, Vincent, came to pick us up and said "We are going South - do you wanna go?" Ummm, sure!!!! It ended up being the only day were were able to do it in the 8 days we dove there because the tides were not right the rest of the days. We also had a couple of days that were really choppy even inside the lagoon due to strong winds, so the ride back to and from would have been rough.

I think that when you contact the operator, they may not be able to predict weather or if there will be enough divers willing to go this far in advance, but they might be able to at least tell you if the tides will be right to go south on your dates.

Thanks @Manuel Sam again for your helpful response!

I sent inquires to O2 and Kaina. O2 got back to me saying they are not open during our planned dive days on Fakarava (Dec 27 to Jan 1). I am still waiting to hear back from Kaina.

 

[DivingChipmunk]

Hi
See my post on Kaina and Dive Spirit. I would avoid them after that.

Top Dive were good and arranged min 5 people to go south on the day we wanted.

Good luck and have a great time.

Thanks @bathbiggles2 . I only found one post by you o

Hi
See my post on Kaina and Dive Spirit. I would avoid them after that.

Top Dive were good and arranged min 5 people to go south on the day we wanted.

Good luck and have a great time.

Thanks @bathbiggles2 ! Glad you had a great time diving at Fakarava. Would love to hear more about it from you. Was there any mosquito problem?

I searcedh the forum and only found one post by you today, which did not talk about Kaina or Dive Spirit. Can you point me to your post on them? Did you have any unpleasant experience with them?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[bathbiggles2]

Thanks @bathbiggles2 . I only found one post by you o

Thanks @bathbiggles2 ! Glad you had a great time diving at Fakarava. Would love to hear more about it from you. Was there any mosquito problem?

I searcedh the forum and only found one post by you today, which did not talk about Kaina or Dive Spirit. Can you point me to your post on them? Did you have any unpleasant experience with them?

Thanks again for your help!

Hi DivingChipmunk

The post is entitled Fakarava Poor Diving Experience - Trip Report - Poor Fakarava Experience

Yes I had a bad experience with them - actually it was no experience! They are now the same company - so there are only effectively 3 dive operations in the north - but O2 and Top Dive have the best setups and boats. Kaina is budget and from what others said was disorganised and careless. If you dive the passes for the first time you need everything in the dive shop to be just right - there is too much else going on in the water to have any additional risk in my view! They took a couple who were staying in our place and had only two dives ever and were not even certified into Ali Baba at the North Pass on a fast incoming current - which, as an instructor, I think is absolutely crazy!

There are mosquitos but they are not terrible. It can be windy - so that helps keep them away. I think I was bitten once.

The diving was awesome but I am glad we stayed in the north and had the day trip south - it was only about 75 minutes. I personally thought the North Pass was more impressive and exciting and did more dives there. The accommodation in the south is extremely basic also and there is a good choice for all budgets in the north.

Lets me know if you have any other questions.

 

[DivingChipmunk]

Hi DivingChipmunk

The post is entitled Fakarava Poor Diving Experience - Trip Report - Poor Fakarava Experience

Yes I had a bad experience with them - actually it was no experience! They are now the same company - so there are only effectively 3 dive operations in the north - but O2 and Top Dive have the best setups and boats. Kaina is budget and from what others said was disorganised and careless. If you dive the passes for the first time you need everything in the dive shop to be just right - there is too much else going on in the water to have any additional risk in my view! They took a couple who were staying in our place and had only two dives ever and were not even certified into Ali Baba at the North Pass on a fast incoming current - which, as an instructor, I think is absolutely crazy!

There are mosquitos but they are not terrible. It can be windy - so that helps keep them away. I think I was bitten once.

The diving was awesome but I am glad we stayed in the north and had the day trip south - it was only about 75 minutes. I personally thought the North Pass was more impressive and exciting and did more dives there. The accommodation in the south is extremely basic also and there is a good choice for all budgets in the north.

Lets me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks @bathbiggles2 ! Just read your post on being abandoned by Kania. What a terrible experience! I originally considered them as my second choice, but will have to change my mind.

Did you also dive on Rangiora? Which shop did you use? How was your dive experience there ?

I am currently planning 4 dive days on Rangiora and 6 on Fakarava, hoping to have a day trip to the South Pass during the 6 days. Do you know how often does TopDive usually offer a South Pass day trip?

If you are going to write a trip report later on the whole trip, I will be very happy to read it.

Thanks again!

 

[DunningKruger]

Any wisdom and experience to share? Thanks for your advice.

We are currently anchored here in Fakarava. We've been diving with O2 Fakarava since we've been here. Headed out to the North Pass with them tomorrow. Also dove the south pass with them. Probably 12 dives total so far. Highly recommended. Great divemasters (Manu, Carole, Camille). Attentive, thoughtful, and helpful.

I can't compare them to the other shops here because we've only used O2.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I can follow up for you.

As an additional resource, most of us out here sailing use www.noforeignland.com as a way to share information. Here's the info for O2 Fakarava. https://www.noforeignland.com/place/6755338971776898

 

[DivingChipmunk]

We are currently anchored here in Fakarava. We've been diving with O2 Fakarava since we've been here. Headed out to the North Pass with them tomorrow. Also dove the south pass with them. Probably 12 dives total so far. Highly recommended. Great divemasters (Manu, Carole, Camille). Attentive, thoughtful, and helpful.

I can't compare them to the other shops here because we've only used O2.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I can follow up for you.

As an additional resource, most of us out here sailing use www.noforeignland.com as a way to share information. Here's the info for O2 Fakarava. https://www.noforeignland.com/place/6755338971776898

Thank you @DunningKruger ! Glad to hear that you've had some great dives with O2 and lucky you to be sailing in the beautiful water of the French Polynesia.

O2 was (and still is) on the top of our list for Fakarava, but unfortunately they said they will be closed during our planned window of travel to Fakarava, Dec 26- Jan 2. We may consider switching our travel plans to see if we can get to dive with them before that week.

Thank you and enjoy !