Dive and Explore Fakarava With a Catamaran!

Why We Love It

Discover the atolls of French Polynesia off the beaten track! With these catamaran cruises departing from Fakarava, you will dive on new sites every day. Fakarava is classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and its marine life is exceptional: a multitude of sharks, mantas, turtles, marbled grouper, dolphins... Relaxing, kayaking, and discoveries of remote atolls and virgin beaches are also part of the daily program!

Conservation

The catamaran sails and reduces its waste as much as possible, uses ecological moorings, and produces part of its electricity with solar panels.

Who Is It For?

For pelagic lovers, beginners can dive in the lagoon while experienced divers will enjoy the drift dives in the passes. Non-diving partners are also welcome to partake in activities such as kayaking, water-skiing, excursions to beaches and lagoons, snorkeling, or visiting a village.

Prices and Dates

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What's included?

Return transfers between Fakarava airport and the catamaran
Two dives per day
Full board, drinking water
Diving instructor
Diving equipment except for the dive computer
Shore excursions such as a village visit or motus discovery
Kayaking, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, spearfishing

What's not included?

Dive computer rental: €50 per week
Nitrox
WiFi
Soft drinks, fruit juices and alcoholic drinks
Tips

Dive Briefing!

Marine Life

Fakarava is one of the world's best dive spots, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Fakarava is also home to a big marble groupers spawning event that attracts hundreds of sharks (and scientists!) every year. Depending on the year, the event takes place during the full moon of June or July.
Huge coral heads, schools of fish in the thousands, “walls” of sharks (grey reef sharks, black & white tip sharks, silky sharks, hammerheads) in the passes, dolphins, manta rays, humpback whales in season, barracudas, tunas, napoleon fish, groupers, butterflies, angels, surgeonfish... some good macro life too.

Dive Conditions

Season: diving all year long. June & July: groupers spawning event. July to September: manta rays. December to March: Great Hammerheads.
Currents: strong and changing - some dive sites are not suitable for beginners or anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable in currents.
Visibility: 30 meters (98 ft)
Water Temperature: 26° to 29°C (79° to 84°F)
Depth: deep and shallow dives

Dive Sites

Dives in the passes are drift dives, with canyons. They require good buoyancy skills and currents experience.
Inside the lagoon dive sites have less current, they are usually more shallow with beautiful coral gardens.
Two main areas for diving: Garuae Pass in the north where most dives are - the pass is 1.6km wide, and Tumakohua Pass in the south, 60km away
Dive sites in the north: Garuae Pass, Maiuru, Ohutu, Pufana. In the south: Tumakohua Pass, known for its wall of 500 sharks!
Up to three dives per day, seven days a week. Dusk dives are only possible in the South pass, with an additional charge.

The Team

Operation created in 1997
Number of boats: 2
Languages on board: English and French
Maximum divers per group: 8

Safety Information

Equipment Recommended: a Surface Marker Buoy and a Nautilus Lifeline if you have one, as currents can be strong. A 5mm wetsuit between July and October, and a 3mm wetsuit the other months of the year.
Insurance: both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe that has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: Tahiti, 450km away from the atoll. No doctor on the island.

Visas, Flights, and More!

Visa Requirements

Please check the current visa policy that applies for your country.
Many countries are entitled to a three-month stay without a visa, check what's requires on the website of the French Polynesia Prefecture

How to Get There

From the USA: United Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, Hawaiian Airlines and Air France
From Australia: Air Tahiti Nui thanks to partnership agreements with Qantas, Air New Zealand and Emirates
From New Zealand: Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui
From France: Air France and Emirates have the shortest flight times to Papeete
Once in Papeete, French Polynesia, fly with Air Tahiti to go to Fakarava. If you want to visit more islands, you can purchase the Air Tahiti Multi-island Pass, it is really worth it!