Rangiroa Tiputa Cruises
At 42 miles (67 km) long and 16 miles (26 km) wide, Rangiroa is the largest atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago which comprises 78 coral atolls, scattered over several hundred miles of the eastern Pacific Ocean governed by French Polynesia. Life on these remote atolls is simple, quiet and peaceful. In the small villages, the visitor can discover the true flavor of the Tuamotu, often participating in the daily activities of the Paumotu people. The interior lagoons are a haven for black pearl farms, fish breeding farms, snorkeling and scuba diving. The outrigger speed canoe or motor boat is used to reach the distant motu across the lagoon, where the day is spent preparing copra and searching for colorful seashells. Rangiroa remains tranquil and distinctly local in its customs and language, where few people speak English and the experience is a visual feast. RANGIROA DIVING – SCUBA DIVING to be confirmed onboard. In Rangiroa there are dive sites to suit all levels of certification. Divers can get a close look at the large variety of fish life around and within this remote atoll. The beginner or inexperienced diver can dive in less than 12m/40ft of water to visit a reef that has a vast variety of tropical fish and coral. The clear blue water outside of the Tiputa Pass offers dives for the more experienced divers. Visit the home of gray sharks, rays and reef fish, also visit sites where hard coral of all sorts are fighting for space. Occasionally, silver tipped and great hammerhead sharks will glide by silently. Shooting through Tiputa Pass as the tide reverses and starts to enter the lagoon is a very famous dive. Advanced divers descend to 27.5m/90ft beneath the surface and begin an effortless dive going through the pass carried along by the incoming current. Operation of all tours is regulated by the exact arrival and departure times due to the tide variances.