DIVING
I was back in my stateroom by 10 a.m. and was exploring the main island of Bora Bora soon after. I’d had an amazing dive and still had nearly the full day ahead of me to experience the destination.
My second dive was at the Ledges in Moorea and it was just as exciting and easy. I also was reminded again of the benefi t of SCUBA diving with Paul Gauguin Cruises and their stellar dive team when T omas’ experienced eye spotted the elusive scorpion fi sh camoufl aged against the side of the reef. T is was almost as exciting as that 8-foot lemon shark and sea turtle we saw.
Sharks, turtles, stingrays, clams, fi sh, and a fun dive staff —if that has inspired you to go SCUBA diving, but you’re not yet certifi ed, don’t worry. You can get certifi ed on board, which involves doing training dives in the cruise ship’s pool (with gorgeous views of French Polynesia surrounding you) followed by some easy beginner dives in the sea, where you’ll still feel like you’re in a pool thanks to the warmth and clear views. Hearing about SCUBA certifi cation on board made me jealous—it sounded much nicer than the community pool and cold, low-visibility waters off the San Diego coast where I got my
SCUBA certifi cate. Plus, you get to hang out with the entertaining Paul Gauguin Cruises dive staff while getting certifi ed.
Whether novice or experienced, a Paul Gauguin Cruises dive excursion is like no other. T e vibrant marine life you see will stay embedded in your mind forever, but it’s the ebullient personalities of the dive staff and passionate service that help elevate a Paul Gauguin Cruises dive trip over others and make it truly memorable.
PADI certifi cation is not available outside of French Polynesia.
A NOTE FROM YOUR DIVE MASTER
A passion for SCUBA diving exudes from Paul Gauguin Cruises’ friendly dive master, T omas Brossolette, and his excitement for marine life in French Polynesia is delightfully contagious.
“You see so many diff erent species, like every dive is diff erent…you see things that most people won’t ever see,” T omas said.
T omas’ favorite dive spot in French Polynesia is Fakarava, located within the Tuamotu group of atolls, and which consists of
a tiny channel connecting the ocean to the lagoon. 60 2017 Paul Gauguin Cruises | Diving & Watersports
He explained why it’s a special dive: “We usually dive when the current is incoming from the ocean to the lagoon. It’s a really strong drift [8 knots]. You jump into the blue. You see nothing. And then you see something appearing, and that’s the channel. It’s about 100 feet down. You reach what we call the step…between the ocean and the lagoon. You try to stay here [by grabbing onto a rock]. And then you see a wall of sharks. It’s like 400 sharks; it’s crazy.”
With a dive experience like that, it’s no wonder T omas equates diving in French Polynesia to fl ying. “You see so far away. You see deep, you see the surface, you see everything. You almost forget that you are diving. It looks like you are fl ying somewhere.”
Learn more about The Gauguin’s dive staff at
pgcruises.com/SCUBA
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