Rangiora

[Travelnsj]

Has any been to Rangoira?
Moderate Places to stay?
Good Dive shop?
Best time of the year to go?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[BurBunny]

Based on my experiences with their other shops, and information from friends who have used them in Rangi, I'd recommend TopDive in a heartbeat. Well run operation.

As for time of year to go, the water tends to be clearest in their winter months, July-September, though other months adjacent shouldn't be too bad. Just know that starting in October, they begin moving into their wet season which not only affects water condition, but also topside enjoyment.

"Moderate" is a relative term in French Polynesia :-x

Hope that helps!

-Amber

 

[Travelnsj]

Based on my experiences with their other shops, and information from friends who have used them in Rangi, I'd recommend TopDive in a heartbeat. Well run operation.

As for time of year to go, the water tends to be clearest in their winter months, July-September, though other months adjacent shouldn't be too bad. Just know that starting in October, they begin moving into their wet season which not only affects water condition, but also topside enjoyment.

"Moderate" is a relative term in French Polynesia :-x

Hope that helps!

-Amber

Hi Amber,

Thank you for the info. I have heard Top Dive and Raie Manta Club are both good. But the Top dives site lists nothing about Rangiora, i will e-mail them.

Suggestions on Accommodations? The only place i can find that looks good is the Kia Ora Village, which is bloody expensive.

Scott

 

[Mike Veitch]

Based on my experiences with their other shops, and information from friends who have used them in Rangi, I'd recommend TopDive in a heartbeat. Well run operation.

As for time of year to go, the water tends to be clearest in their winter months, July-September, though other months adjacent shouldn't be too bad. Just know that starting in October, they begin moving into their wet season which not only affects water condition, but also topside enjoyment.

"Moderate" is a relative term in French Polynesia :-x

Hope that helps!

-Amber

Actually, July to September is also coincidentally the worst time of year for weather, lots of wind and rough seas, but you get more dolphin and sailfish encounters at that time.
If you want schooling Eagle rays and Great Hammers try Dec/Jan, especially at full moon.
June full moon has the mating grey reefs, and i mean over 200 of em...

Lots of Pensionnes to stay at, the nicest is the one on Tiputa Pass, Chez...can't think of it at the monent. Josephine i think
Also Raira Lagoon, and 3 or 4 others. Best to contact Top Dive or Raie Manta for info on accomodation
Or you could always go with the Tahiti Aggressor, that way you get 4 islands instead of one!

 

[globetrotter]

Stay away from Raie Manta Club at all costs! I had the worst experience with them two years ago and I can't imagine they've gotten any better since then. The briefing was in French (hi, I'm American...after you're done could you repeat that in English please?!) and they had no safety gear (O2, etc). The DM repeatedly left my fiance and I behind.

And to top it off: it took them two days to tell us we should ditch some weight considering the tanks are steel, not the aluminum we were used to. That's somewhat my fault, it was like our umpteenth dive but still...they should have been able to figure out we kept running low on air long before everyone else.

Time/weather wise we went in June and the weather was great. Diving conditions are OK...the pass can be silty, and the coral is pretty washed out from cyclones/El Nino but the shark action was sweet. Many kinds, and lots of them. Be on the lookout for BIG tigers...we didn't see any, but they had pictures and supposedly it's not uncommon. If you want to see a great (scary) photo of a tiger in action try the Kia Ora dive shop. The owner has a great story about it.

If I had to do it all over (which we are, in June) I'd dive with the Kia Ora outfit or someone else. Every diver we met at the Kia Ora had great things to say about them...

-globetrotter

PS - added this after I reread your post. The Kia Ora garden rooms are a great deal...The published rate is like $250 a night...but if you call them directly and ask for a better rate they'll probably do it. We were staying at one of the pensions and the KO gave me a garden bungalow for $128 per night...try it!