I Want To Shoot-The-Pass at Rangiroa . . .

[tarczy]

Yep!! I'm hooked!!

Fresh from the currents of Raja Ampat, I'm becoming a drift diving nut job . . . or an adrenaline junkie! To “shoot the pass” in Rangiroa is to experience the world’s greatest adrenaline rush and I want to do it. :eek: Lots of big animals in the pass, including an occasional Whale Shark, along with huge clouds of fish life. It'll be interesting taking pics with that monster Ikelite housing of mine while swimming in 7-knot current.

Anybody have any experience with this? What are the best dive resorts (or dive operators)? Is there a best time to go and, if so, when is it?

[sorvju-f]

Yep!! I'm hooked!!

Fresh from the currents of Raja Ampat, I'm becoming a drift diving nut job . . . or an adrenaline junkie! To “shoot the pass” in Rangiroa is to experience the world’s greatest adrenaline rush and I want to do it. :eek: Lots of big animals in the pass, including an occasional Whale Shark, along with huge clouds of fish life. It'll be interesting taking pics with that monster Ikelite housing of mine while swimming in 7-knot current.

Anybody have any experience with this? What are the best dive resorts (or dive operators)? Is there a best time to go and, if so, when is it?

Looks great...but sorry no experience...but as I am following your steps ( there is 3 locations on the list now )...maybe some day:D

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

Doesn't the Aggressor Tahiti go there?

[tarczy]

Doesn't the Aggressor Tahiti go there?

Thanks for the tip, but I think Aggressor moved the Tahiti boat to North Sulawesi. I can't find a Tahiti boat on the Aggressor website.

C'mon peoples . . . NOBODY has done this dive??? From what I hear, this is one of the most spectacular dives on the planet!! :cool:

Lookin' for some input.

Thanks.

[allison finch]

;)

If you want the ultimate rush, you might need to go to Lombongan Island off the south shore of Bali and go to their "Blue Corner". The guide book starts out...."Don't try this at home!!". They were right.

When we went to the put in, the water was boiling up in a really ominous fashion. I was not sure I wanted any of that. Well, we jumped in together and all hell broke out! We were whipped everywhere. I tried to duck behind a huge coral head and hit a wall of turbulance that kept me spinning. It was hard getting out of it. The curents went UP and DOWN! At the end we were exhilarated, but numb.

The next day we had to do it again. This time we all held hands in a line. I was at the end and we played "crack the whip". It was a blast!

If you missed the sharp left turn at the end of the reef, however, you would be blasted out to who knew where.:eek:

[Jonathan Bird]

Thanks for the tip, but I think Aggressor moved the Tahiti boat to North Sulawesi. I can't find a Tahiti boat on the Aggressor website.

Oh yeah, I think you're right. Sorry bro! Have you seen Howard's film Coral Reef Adventure? They do it!

[Papa Bear]

They got taxed out of Tahiti and the owner moved it back to Fiji where it is now the Fiji Aggressor II! (They had trouble with transportation as well Cab rides went from $5.00 to $50.00 when the locals figured it out) They have two Boats in Fiji!

[Mike Veitch]

i worked on that aggressor for 2 years.. :D

actually the passes in Fakarava are better than rangiroa, especially for the fish masses.. I would split the trip between those two islands and try to get to South fakarava for a couple days as well, best dive in Polynesia..

best time of year is full moon in jan or feb or even dec. that is when the eagle rays mate in Rangiroa pass and that brings in 3 or 4 resident great hammers.. def do not go in late April to july or so, the winds are from the south then and usually results in no incoming tide so can't dive the pass, all the water flows out 24 hours a day amazing as that sounds.. but when it does come in it can be good, the grey reefs mate in rangi in june..

be warned though, they hammers usually around 150ft+ and the french are pretty strict about depth limits, especially PADI divers..

can't remember names of most places to stay. i would recommend Top Dive as an operation though..

[tarczy]

Mike-

You're a stud!!

Thanks for the input. Your information was exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks

Mark

[Neptune7]

actually the passes in Fakarava are better than rangiroa, especially for the fish masses.. I would split the trip between those two islands and try to get to South fakarava for a couple days as well, best dive in Polynesia..

best time of year is full moon in jan or feb or even dec. that is when the eagle rays mate in Rangiroa pass and that brings in 3 or 4 resident great hammers..

Sounds pretty cool! Are you planning something Tarczy? Having someone who speaks french in French polynesia could be an asset!

Pierre

[tarczy]

Sounds pretty cool! Are you planning something Tarczy? Having someone who speaks french in French polynesia could be an asset!

Pierre


Ahhhh . . . Pierre . . . YES! . . . I'm thinking about doing Rangiroa and South Fakarava around the Christmas/New Years holidays this year. I'll be sure to let you know when I have things worked out. Maybe you will be able to tear yourself away from that retirement Barka Lounger long enough to join us!! :rolleyes:

[Mike Veitch]

Mike-

You're a stud!!

Mark

Don't let that get too public or my GF will get mad.. :P

no problem, i love the diving there. water is the best blue you will ever find..

have a great trip!

[Jonathan Bird]

Mike,
Any Humpbacks in French Polynesia?

Jonathan

[Mike Veitch]

Mike,
Any Humpbacks in French Polynesia?

Jonathan

yessir! aug/sept/oct is the best time for it. is in the south west... but i can't remember the name of the island right now.. haha

for those babies you are FAR better off going to Tonga though, much less expensive. I have contacts for there if you need.. :D

[Neptune7]

yessir! aug/sept/oct is the best time for it. is in the south west... but i can't remember the name of the island right now.. haha

for those babies you are FAR better off going to Tonga though, much less expensive. I have contacts for there if you need.. :D

Mike,
Any Humpbacks in French Polynesia?

Jonathan

Hi Mike,

Yo Jonathan! What are we waiting for? Two week in French Polynesia (Fakarava, South Fakarava and Rangiora) and one week at Tonga would make a fun trip.

Pierre

[sorvju-f]

Hi Mike,

Yo Jonathan! What are we waiting for? Two week in French Polynesia (Fakarava, South Fakarava and Rangiora) and one week at Tonga would make a fun trip.

Pierre

Sounds like great...when we should start packing?

Jukka