Trip Help Needed! Dive Operators in Tahiti, Tonga & New Caledonia?

[ccbeachlife]

Hello,

I am a college student and active diver. I will be studying on the California Maritime Academy Training Ship Golden Bear during May and June in the South Pacific. We will be stopping in Papeete, Tahiti; Nuku’alofa, Tonga; and Noumea, New Caledonia. Unfortunately we will only have about 2 full days to enjoy each port and every night must be spent on the ship. This limits how far we can go to dive. None of the students going have been to this part of the World and most of us have only dove in the waters off California.

I’d like any suggestions on dive operators in these ports. For Tahiti I found Top Dive out of the Sheraton Hotel and Bathys Diving out of the Intercontinental Beach Resort. Does anyone have experience with these operators in Papeete? Is Moorea worth the time and effort to make a day trip from Papeete (we are limited in when we can leave our ship in the morning)? For Tonga we will only be able to dive the main island that Nuku’alofa is on. The only dive operator I found there was Deep Blue Diving.

Since I am new to this type of diving (setting up my own trip in a different part of the World) is there anything I need to be aware of?

I was also planning on just bringing my boots, fins, regulator, computer, mask and snorkel as space is limited in our cabins.

Are there any must see dive spots in the areas that I am going to? I would really like to do a shark dive, wall dive and wreck dive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mike Holmes

 

[Frog-fish]

Bonjour Mike
For New Cal there are many dive sites within a short boat ride, in 30/40 minutes you can be out on the reef and see all youre after then do a second dive at a wreck and be back by around lunchtime. Many sites are also reserves as are some of the small atolls set up for snorkelling which you might want to look at for the second day...If small numbers would suggest Lagoon Safaris as its run by an Australian lady - Annabella - ...email. lagoon.safaris@lagoon.nc
If not suggest Amedee Diving as they have larger boats - email. amedee@canl.nc.
If really large numbers you'd be best to split as local operators just arent able to cater.
All gear is available, at the moment shorties / 3mm is ok but for may / june you'd want something around 5mm but again these can be provided by the club.
I run a shipping agency so if you need an agent to look after the husbandry of the Golden Bear though NC let me know and we can handle that for you too.
Cheers - Giles

 

[maddmike]

I know you said you were only going to be in Tongatapu in Tonga. But...

Dive Vava'u is an unbeatable dive op in Vava'u (northern island group of Tonga). Good equipment, great boat, amazingly wonderful guides (skilled, knowledgeable, and great at pointing out neat stuff), and good food.