The Six Passengers & Blue Velvet Diving

The Six Passengers & Blue Velvet Diving is established on the white sands of Ohutu Bay, near the Kia Ora village in Rangiroa. The centre is built in a traditional Polynesian 'Fare' style, integrated into the natural environment and featuring a large 450m² wooden deck and a direct boarding pontoon.

With over 25 years of experience in French Polynesia, the centre has built a reputation for a natural approach to marine life. They are a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort and a National Geographic Dive Center, focusing on the high-energy environments of the local passes.

The centre is managed by Frédéric 'Pitou' Lhermitte and operates seven days a week, all year round. All instructors are state-certified and specifically trained to manage the challenging local conditions of the passes.

Training is available for a wide range of divers, including children from eight years old. For those seeking more autonomy, private instructors and private boat charters are available to tailor the experience to your specific goals.

The centre provides a comprehensive range of training through multiple certifying bodies, including PADI, CMAS, FFESSM, and CEDIP/ANMP. They cover everything from entry-level courses like Open Water Diver to advanced certifications.

Advanced training includes Nitrox, and they also offer PE40 training. For those looking to progress through the French systems, they provide Niveau 1, Niveau 2, and Niveau 3 courses.

The fleet consists of four semi-rigid boats designed to handle the local currents. This includes a 2019 Highfield 8.5m and a BWA 8.5m, both powered by twin 250hp Mercury SeaPro four-stroke engines.

Each boat is equipped with VHF radio and a first aid kit for safety. The power of these vessels allows for efficient transit to the various sites in the Tiputa and Avatoru passes, even when navigating incoming or outgoing currents.

The shore-based facilities include a technical room and a club house with a video room for post-dive debriefings. The centre is a Scubapro S.E.A centre, offering complete Scubapro equipment for hire, which is included in the dive price.

On-site gas management is handled by two Bauer vertical 14m³ mini compressors. The cylinder parc includes 50 units of 12-litre aluminium and steel cylinders, as well as 8 units of 15-litre cylinders. Nitrox is available for all divers.

The passes are famous for large pelagics, particularly during specific windows. You can encounter the hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) between January and March, while the reproduction season in June brings more frequent sightings of grey sharks.

In the blue and along the reef walls, you will find silky sharks, whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), and various species of sharks. Manta rays, leopard rays, and dolphins are also frequently observed by those diving the outer edges of the reef.

The reef itself is home to a vibrant community including Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), tuna (Thunnus), and various species of jacks (Carangidae). You will also see yellow snappers, bigeye trevally, and great barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda) patrolling the currents.

For those interested in smaller residents, the coral gardens and caves host a variety of tropical reef fish, including surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) and various species of grouper (Epinephelus).

Diving in Rangiroa is heavily dictated by the tidal currents in the Tiputa and Avatoru passes. These currents can be very strong, particularly in narrow sections, and can be either incoming or outgoing.

The weather is generally sunny throughout the year, though the trade winds are most active from July to September. The wet season typically runs from November to February.