Tides, lunar cycle and schedules

In Rangiroa, the time of a dive is not a preference: the ocean sets it. Here is why.

The role of tides

The Tiputa and Avatoru passes are the two breaths of the lagoon: on the flood tide the ocean flows in (incoming current); on the ebb tide the lagoon empties (outgoing current). These currents, running several times a day, make the passes so rich and dictate the choice of site, the direction of the dive and the time of entry.

It is also the tidal bore of the ebb tide that sends the Tiputa dolphins surfing in the waves of the pass.

The influence of the lunar cycle

Tidal range follows the cycle of the moon: around full moon and new moon, tides are stronger and the currents in the passes more powerful; around the quarters, they calm down. The same site therefore does not dive the same way depending on the day of the cycle.

We follow this cycle constantly to pick the windows when observation and safety conditions are at their best.

Why our schedules change

The favourable current window shifts every day with the tide. This is why we do not publish a fixed schedule: departure times are confirmed as close as possible to the conditions, once tides, lunar cycle and weather have been cross-checked.

Each dive is then adapted to the actual level of the day's divers. This is how we work: we adapt to the ocean, never the ocean to our dives.