Marquesas Islands, Tahiti

[Travelnsj]

I am looking at going to Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva. Has anyone been? How is the diving? Best time of the year to go? Places to stay? if you have been to Rangiroa or Fakarava how do you compare?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Mossman]

I am looking at going to Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva. Has anyone been? How is the diving? Best time of the year to go? Places to stay? if you have been to Rangiroa or Fakarava how do you compare?
Thanks for any info.

I've dove Rangiroa and Fakarava off the Tahiti Aggressor. I'm booked on a cruise next year that includes stops at Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva where I'm hoping to dive the latter. I understand there's no coral in the Marquesas, or at least no coral reef, while the Tuamotus are coral atolls. Also, the Tuamotus feature "pass diving", i.e. high-speed drift diving through the cuts in the atolls, which are not a feature of Marquesan diving. The remoteness of the Marquesas should lead to a significant number of endemic species.

Here's the helpful description of the Nuku Hiva dive I'm hoping to make, courtesy of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises website:

The ship's dive master will take divers to the two rock formations that serve as guardians for the entrance of the bay of Taiohae. The Marquesas do not boast coral reefs, peaceful lagoons or crystalline waters. Instead, the water is thick with plankton and rich in alluvium, and visibility is consequently reduced. You may think it is a negative aspect, however these conditions allow regular sightings of unusual creatures, such as scalloped hammerheads and many types of rays.

Your dive will operate at the exit of Taiohae Bay (dependent upon weather conditions), near the area called the "Hammerhead Sentry Point". The underwater topography echoes the steep basalt cliff. It plunges to a sandy bottom at 150 feet (50 meters). The dive mainly consists of swimming along the drop-off; usually the location of sharks and rays. The caverns by the wall create a haven for moray eels, scorpion fish and shells.

Please note: The dive is available only to Advanced certified divers. Since the Marquesan waters are devoid of any protective barrier reefs, divers should be prepared for the moderate sea swell. The area at the entrance of the bay is more exposed to the swell, and rather choppy compared to the calm waters inside the bay. Visibility is expected to be approximately 45 feet (15 meters) on average, but may be reduced to 15 feet (5 meters).

 

[Travelnsj]

Thanks for the info. I cannot find much on the Internet about the diving other than Nuku Hivi. According to a Tahiti travel agency I'm working with said that dive operation there is now closed. They say Hiva Oa now has a dive shop but I can find almost zero info on the diving.

I may just go back to Rangiora of Fakarava although Rangiora gets a bit redundant for more than 4 days of diving....thanks again for the info.