Rangiroa consists of a very large atoll with no island in
the middle. A 200 foot deep narrow channel, the Tiputa Pass, allows ships to
enter and anchor in the lagoon. The atoll is so large in circumference that we
couldn’t see the other side. Only 2000 people live here, which is known for
spectacular diving. Here is a dive map of the atoll:
The morning was a technically challenging dive because we
“shot the pass.” With a rising tide driving a current through the Tiputa, we
went together backwards from the dive boat into the water on the ocean side and descended
together to 25 meters. In tight formation following the dive master we rode the
current about a mile and a half to well inside the lagoon, staying eight feet off
the wall on our left. We took pictures as we passed but there was no lingering
for perfect shots. This was a drift dive on steroids.
A Starry Puffer Fish followed on our left shoulder for five
minutes, so it was easy to shoot the video above.
This remora (above and below) also tagged along for a couple of minutes.
Rangiroa is famous for the “Napoleon Fish” above, also called a Humphead Wrasse.
And we passed right over an eel in his hole
The second dive was also a drift dive. We saw bottle-nosed dolphins in the distance, but too far away for pictures. We saw tons of reef fish, below, as did Joani on her snorkel excursions.
As we leave the warm and clear turquoise waters of Rangiroa,
here is one last pan of the Insignia
anchored inside the atoll:
Next: A quick stop at Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas on June 2nd
and then four sea days to Hawaii
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