Blogs from Rangiroa, French Polynesia, Oceania
April 26th 2012
Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus, and the second largest atoll in the world. There are less than 1,500 permanent residents though. The major attraction to Rangiroa is the underwater life that is enhanced by the strong currents brought by the tides. There are only two main, large, passes (channels) for water to enter the lagoon. There are over a hundred small ones, but only two that you can dive in. Current is life, and no matter when the current is incoming or outgoing, the current is ripping through these passes. The best dives are supposed to be during the incoming tide at the Tiputa Pass, the largest pass on the island. Unfortunately, during our two days in Rangiroa, the incoming tide never came to fruition due to the large south swell that was ... read more
Scuba Diving- Shooting The Tiputa Pass- Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Published: July 11th 2011Oceania » French Polynesia » Rangiroa
July 11th 2011
Shooting the Tiputa Pass- Rangiora French Polynesia This Blog is just a rough text blog, to see photos please check out my main blog at http://scubasteve-ultimatedives.blogspot.com/ Rangiroa meaning “Vast sky” in Toamotuan is located roughly 350 km north of Tahiti and is part of the Tuamotu island group. It is recognized as the largest atoll in the southern hemisphere and is home to the second largest lagoon on the planet. It is made up of just over 400 individual motu, small islands, and mere sandbars forming a slipper shaped rim around a turquoise lagoon so large it has it’s very own sunset. The population of just under 2,500 people live almost exclusively on the two large islands at the north end of the lagoon near the Tiputa pass. The lagoon’s crystal clear water is only around ... read more
June 22nd 2010
In Rangiora Lagoon!! Hi guys, it is 7.15am local time on Tuesday and Debsy is tucked up in bed with a nice hot cup of tea and her new book so she is a very happy camper. The kids are asleep and shortly, Debs and I will take the dinghy over to the wharf and walk up to the little shop to pick up our fresh baguettes, yummoh. We had to order them yesterday so make sure we had some this morning so that is always a bit of a treat to get beautiful fresh baguettes cooked in the oh so traditional French style. We had a good run into the lagoon through the pass with no adverse outflow and no standing waves and I guess we were anchored up by about 10.30am. Our first drop ... read more
June 17th 2010
Current Conditions: Wind ENE 15 knots Swell 2m and building running at about 230 deg mag C.O.G 220 deg mag S.O.G 6 knots Cloud cover intensifying Sail Set: main in 2nd reef and eased, full headsail on whisker pole, gullwinging. Hi guys, just finished our first 24 hours out of Nuka Hiva. We left the anchorage about 8.00am yesterday morning after a nice early trip to the bakery and markets to get some beautiful fresh bread and some fruit. Another aussie boat called Moreah headed off about half an our before us with a similar course in mind. We started with our main into a second reef due to the damage in the rigging and a full headsail and we basically broad to beam reached for most of the morning and not long after lunch we ... read more
October 25th 2009
Arrived at our hotel, Kia Ora and went snorkeling out front our hotel. It was kinda cloudy water but we saw a huge “Giant Morey Eel” and a bat ray, along with plenty of fish. Amy almost got bite by the eel having stood right next to it then putting her face in the water and it was within a few feet of the eel. Later we went on an outrigger canoe, which wasn’t very exciting, then swam in the pool and went to dinner with a Polynesian dance show at the hotel. I woke up and ran to Avarotu which was about 5 miles away one trip, very hard run cause it was like 95 degrees out. I ran to get dinner (pasta, which we were gonna cook in the coffee maker again.) Got ... read more
February 20th 2009
Rangiroa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago Feb 20th, 2009 Again the Aranui crew was absolutely capable at their respective duties. We were hauled off the boat at anchor in the lagoon, brought to shore and disembarked on a beach. Some went on a glass bottom boat and some of these went snorkeling, others went scuba diving. Terry and I swam a bit on the rocky, coral strewn beach; not conducive to snorkeling as there was a heavy sea and the water had too much turbulence. Then we were brought by air-conditioned bus to the Gauguin Pearl Farm; after an explanation and a tour we purchased a lovely pendant for my naked gold chain, my souvenir of French Polynesia. We then swam some more- I say swim, I mean soaked in the South Pacific, walked to the ... read more
November 14th 2008
Rangiroa - Day 5 Today we visit the coral atoll of Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Next to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands this is the second larges atoll in the world. The lagoon could comfortably contain the whole island of Tahiti. An atoll is a high island that over time has eroded and subsided to all that is left is a ring of coral reefs surrounding the point where the volcanic mountain once rose above the surface. We will be entering through Tiputa Pass one of the largest of more than 100 small channels (Hoa) that separate more than 240 coral motus. The sea is dark blue and there are clouds in the distance indicating our destination is near. Rangiroa is so large that it has it’s own horizon. You cannot see the islands across ... read more
October 29th 2008
Today I shared the water with Polynesian bottle nosed dolphins!! We were out in the zodiac scouting for a drift snorkeling site when I saw a fin in the water - then two then three. All of a sudden a dolphin jumped into the air three feet from the zodiac! We were driving through a channel in Rangiroa, the second largest atoll in the Marquesas. We were looking to see how quickly the water was rushing into the lagoon to see if it might be suitable for snorkeling. When we arrived, the water was moving so rapidly that there were 4-5 ft swells in the channel. So we were surfing the waves in the zodiac and the dolphins were doing the same! We would weave in and out and they followed on our bow, friskily speeding ... read more
January 24th 2006
After all that hard work travelling around South America we decided we needed a holiday and where better than French Polynesia. We had already booked our flights from Papette in Tahiti to Rangiroa and accomadation once we got there. Rangiroa is, as you would imagine an idylic tropical island except it's got coral beaches and not soft sand, however it is still beautiful. The second thing you notice in French Polynesia after the scenery is how expensive it is, we were told this is due to there being no income tax here and all government income is generated by their equivalent of VAT ranging from 20% on small items to 80% on larger more expensive stuff. Our accomodation was adequate relativley clean with lagoon side views, the food was some of the best we've had on ... read more
The Second Largest Atoll in the World
Published: November 24th 2009Oceania » French Polynesia » Rangiroa
August 3rd 2005
Day One: Rangiroa is the the second largest atoll in the world. (An atoll is an island of coral that encircles a lagoon. The largest in the world is in the Marshall Islands) Compared to Moorea and Bora Bora, Rangiroa is very flat, but still very pretty. The various blues in the water are gorgeous and the island is closer to the Equator, so it is much more humid. We started our day in Bora Bora, where we watched the sun rise. Then, we got breakfast--yummy pastries and mango juice! We toured the island a bit more before turning in our rental car. When we checked out of our hotel, we got quite a send off! They had men playing the ukulele and signaling our farewell by blowing notes into conch shells. It was neat ... read more
