Try Scuba

Welcome to one of the world’s most beautiful marine sanctuaries: the Rangiroa Atoll. For a beginner, doing these two dives back-to-back is ideal. You’ll start off gently in a veritable underwater playground to get used to the sensations, before experiencing the magic of the legendary Tiputa Pass.

Here is the schedule for your two introductory dives:

1. The Aquarium (Motu Nuhi Nuhi) • Depth: 6 meters

Try Scuba (introductory dive) surrounded by tropical fish.

Located just at the inner entrance to the pass, sheltered from the currents, this site lives up to its name perfectly. It’s the perfect place to make your very first bubbles with complete confidence.

• Entry into the Water: After a thorough briefing on the boat, you glide into crystal-clear water at $28^\circ\text{C}$. The instructor holds your hand or your BCD. You begin by breathing calmly at the surface, then descend very gradually along a white sandy bottom.
• Beneath the Surface: At a depth of 6, the sunlight is dazzling and brings out the vibrant colors of the coral. You are instantly surrounded by hundreds of triggerfish, parrotfish, and surgeonfish that are accustomed to human presence.
• The Experience: It’s a contemplative and reassuring dive. You’ll learn to stabilize yourself while observing curious little moray eels and, very often, majestic white-tip or black-tip sharks sleeping or swimming peacefully on the sand. A true underwater fairy tale that requires no effort at all.

2. The Tiputa Pass Reef • Depth: 12 meters

The ultimate (safe) thrill at the edge of the deep blue sea.

Once you’ve completed your first introductory dive and mastered the basic techniques, you’re ready to move on to the next level. Note: For a beginner, you should not dive into the heart of the strong current at the pass, but rather at the outer edge or at the entrance to the lagoon—depending on the tide—where the ocean water meets the lagoon water. The maximum permitted depth for a second introductory dive (often called “Basic Diver” or “Introductory Dive+”) is set at $12\text{ meters}$.

• The entry into the water: The scenery changes. The blue deepens, becoming almost hypnotic. The instructor, always right by your side, manages your equipment and helps you stabilize. You descend along a magnificent coral reef that plunges into the depths.
• Magical Encounters: This is where Rangiroa truly comes into its own. At $12\text{ meters}$, you’ll watch pelagic life pass right before your eyes. You’ll have a great chance of encountering imposing gray reef sharks, tight schools of silvery trevally, and curious, large Napoleon fish.
• The highlight of the show: Tiputa Pass is world-renowned for its bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops). It’s not uncommon for one or two dolphins to take advantage of the divers’ presence to come play, spin, and seek eye contact with humans just a few meters away. An experience that sends unforgettable shivers down your spine.

Each dive lasts about 35 to 45 minutes. You’ll come out of it exhausted from the excitement, but with stars in your eyes and, most likely, an irresistible urge to get your first diving certification!