Tiputa Pass Rangiroa

Tiputa Pass - Rangiroa - French Polynesia

World renown diving site for encounters with the big fauna : Manta Rays, huge Eagle Rays, Hammerhead Sharks, Grey reef Sharks, White Tip reef Sharks, families of Dolphins (Tursiops) and a lot more (from time to time Whale Sharks, Humpback Whales, Tiger Sharks might show up). The drift dive in Tiputa Pass is one of the most exhilarating diving experience. It makes you believe you are Hydrospeeding, only it's 60 feet below the surface.

Rangiroa is the second biggest lagoon in the World, sea waters flow in and out several times a day following tide moves. You would do this dive when the stream goes inwards (you'd rather avoid diving when it's outwards if you dont't feel like being driven 20 miles off shore! Actually no sensible instructor would bring you in at outwards stream time:)

The Drift Dive

You leave the shore and are rushed out of the lagoon in a Zodiac. If the stream is strong, the small inflatable will jump from wave to wave: so hold your self and gear tight. Keep on smiling - even if you forgot your flashing light - it's part of the game, besides it's the last time before long you'd have an opportunity for it.

From the off shore point of view: the dive starts generally upon the left side of the shallow outside reef of Tiputa Pass (30-40ft), in calm waters. You can do this dive as a PADI Open Water diver.

Some pitiless instructors like to leave the boat down 'in the blue' if they feel the divers will stand that 100 feet deep swimming back to the Pass with the compass, while big fauna comes out of curiosity to take a close glance at the team (mostly grey reef sharks, silk sharks and white tip reef sharks, seldom hammerhead shark). You need to be a PADI Rescue Diver ... at least.

Starting from the opposite right side of the reef at strong stream time is somehow terrific but needs a great physical condition and swimming skills above average - you'd be going among grey sharks thru a web of caves, shelter to many small species, while the stream hurls around and tries to wipe you out - not mentionning high breathing and buoyancy control abilities.

Anyway you're now heading to the Pass and reaching the outer lip of Tiputa Reef. Depending on your diving skills you will be standing at 70 to 130 feet deep, over the reef lip that stays below at 200 feet. Between you and the reef an innumerable amount of grey sharks slip lazily in day light. When one says innumerable one means it: there are so many of them that you think you're looking at a screen saver of a special kind; they enter your vision field and disappear by dozens on several depth layers in such a huge amount that you simply can't follow and recount them. This looks like a ballet.

Manta Rays, Eagle Rays often show up alone or in school - Hammerhead sharks as well, especially in November when they come back to reproduce themselves in the lagoon.

At this point, although most divers woudn't pay much attention, some of you might notice that the ground below seems to move back effortlessly, while the instructor heads towards the right side. Lagoon and reef species wander around, mainly Parrot-fish, coy White Tip lagoon Sharks ...

Wuthering Depths :

This is it, YOU're on the move, reef is fleeting back under you at some speed, stream is somehow roller-coastering you ... remember: YOU chose being here.

During this half a mile wild ride, what you'd rather do is:

• Keep Down close to the ground,
• Seek the relative shelter of right side wall of the Pass,
• Remain at about 15 - 20 feet behind the instructor - say if the crowd of frightened divers lets you in the queue,
• Control breathing and buoyancy,

• 
  Look at all the fish sliding away on both sides - say if you can,
  Enjoy the Move ...

  It's not worse than Space Mountains, plus you see stuff, except that, like in Twilight Zone, when you think it's over, it keeps moving on!

  
  

  What you'd rather NOT do is:

• Grasp the coral, the reef or anything - even with gloves!
• Get caught to the coral by some loose part of your gear (good prep is sooo goooood!).
• Breathe too much ...
• Stay over the rest of them : you'd be thrown far ahead of the team out of the reach - and help - of your instructor ...
• Obey to your fear and get up to the surface: life is not any better up there, you're going to be shaken up and down by stream and swell. Best place is, like we said before, close to the ground, 20 feet behind your instructor, calm down - period.

Middle game break: The Surgeon Fish Groove :

At some point in every ordeal there should be a resting period. Tiputa Pass drift dive makes no exception to this rule!

As you are being drawn and torn by, you will be crossing underwater power and phone cables as well as a few 10 to 15 feet deep natural grooves in the coral bottom of the Pass. One of these grooves is called 'The Surgeon Fish Groove'. Wonder why? Schools of surgeon fish gather in there and spend time off stream, probably choosing the best candidate for next presidential race or so ... You're likely to enjoy its relatively still waters, if by any chance your instructor having well kept his hurd finds an opportunity to jump you all down into it.

In our humble opinion it is a pretty good time to check your air out, and let know how you are to the instructor!

In the company of the Surgeon fish you may notice white tip lagoon sharks and other smaller species.

Sweet ending.

Coming out of the groove and completing the drift is quite easy, if you happen to have some air left. The pace will slow down as you get into the lagoon calmer waters and you will be stunned by the beauty of the white sands, colorful coral and 'usual' plentiful tropical fauna. As the dive takes end you are going to be able to wander around and admire all aspects of underwater life, looking about for Leaf Fish, Nemo or whichever Octopuss and strange Shells.

No need to try to reap them up: they are likely to be protected species, or poisonous ... or both!

Surviving divers are going to be picked up by the Zodiac along the 'motu' - small coral inlet in the middle of Tiputa Pass lagoon side - then driven to a fresh water shower followed by some comforting hot Tea or Coffee and a viewing of the dive video.

Now, all you have to think about is the Envy of your friends back home when they listen to the Tale of The Dive :)

Truthfully: no Honeymooner has been lost yet!

Just in case you were not fully dissuaded to dive Rangiroa Tiputa Pass, a few phone # below:

RAIE MANTA CLUB RANGIROA
Information
Director: Yves Lefevre former Cousteau Team member
Video professional: Peter Schneider former Berlin TV cameraman.
Postal address B.P. 55 - 98 775 Avatoru - RANGIROA
Geographical address Village d'Avatoru and close to the 'pension Teina' (B&B), Tiputa Pass.
Phone (689) 96. 84. 80
Fax (689) 96. 85. 60
[Web site ]
E-mail raiemantaclub@mail.pf
Affiliation CMAS - PADI - FFESSM Creation 1985

THE SIX PASSENGERS
Director Nanou Chapuisat
Postal address B.P. 128 - 98 775 Avatoru - RANGIROA
Geographical address baie de Ohutu a few yards from Hotel Kia Ora Village
Phone (689) 96. 02. 60 / 96. 03. 05
Fax (689) 96. 02. 60 / 96. 03. 05
[Web site]
E-mail the6passengers@mail.pf
Affiliation PADI et CMAS Creation 1995

TOP DIVE RANGIROA
Director Eric revest
Postal address BP 181
98775 Avatoru
Rangiroa
Polynésie Française
Geographical address close to Hotel Kia Ora Village
Phone (689) 96. 05. 60
Fax (689) 96. 05. 60
[Web site]
E-mail info@topdive.pf
Affiliation Padi S6561, FFESSM 1101068 Creation 2001

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