WEATHER

Does it rain a lot during the rainy season ?

- Rain spells rarely exceed 2 or 3 days. 

What’s the best season to dive in French Polynesia ?

 - With high air and water temperatures throughout the year, you can dive anytime in good conditions. Even when the wind may blow harder, from July to October, the undersea life is flourishing, it being the end of the austral winter, and the beginning of spring. Summer rain, from November to March, may reduce visibility on some lagoon spots, but often generate a revitalization of the marine world.

What’s the water temperature ?

 - It varies from 25°C (77°F) around June, July and August, to 30°C (86°F) in February and March : annual average  temperature being 28°C (83°F).

EQUIPMENT

Do you provide storage for our personal equipment ?

 - No problem, you can rinse and store it at the diving center.

Are these dives adapted to the taking of pictures ?

 - Limpid waters and dense sub aquatic life will allow you to shoot great pictures and videos in ideal conditions. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice. 

Is my diving regulator compatible with your tanks ?

 - Yes, we use DIN and A clamp fittings.

What piece of equipment should I bring along ?

 - We provide the complete gear. The cost is the same, with or without equipment. But don’t forget  to bring along fins, mask and snorkel, since plenty of snorkeling spots are freely available here.

What kind of tanks do you  use ?

 - We use aluminum and steel 12 liters tanks, steel 15 liters, and junior 9 and 6 liters bottles.
 

Do you organize NITROX dives ?

 - Very soon.

DIVING

Can my kids dive too ?

 - We can introduce kids from age 5 to scuba diving, using surface demand, and with parental agreement. A sequence of three diplomas is offered to them before age 12, (legal age to first star)

Can whales and manta rays be seen ?

 - Yes, the whale season runs from  August to the end of November, and manta rays can be seen from January to April.

Will I need a medical certification ?

 - Not for first dives, because of the small depth (20ft max). Yet, should you be subject to any health trouble, it would be wise to seek medical advice.
You won’t need any if you are in possession of a diving degree. However, we strongly advise you to consult your doctor and dentist before your trip. How distressing can it be, having dreamed for years of diving in Polynesia, to have to remain ashore because of a bad tooth or a poorly treated otitis !
Your physician can also give a sound advice on any medicine worth taking with you, and perhaps unavailable here. 

Is a special insurance necessary ?

 - Our centers offer you civil liability for all trips. Should you need a complementary insurance, you will have to arrange for it. 

Can we dive without instructor ?

 - To help you fully enjoy your dives and for security  reasons regarding the specificity of our sites (currents, fish behavior), an instructor will always be present. One instructor for a maximum of 5 divers.

What’s a two tank dive ?

- A two tank dive is a boat-trip during which we dive twice on two different spots, at one hour interval. 

What level is required to dive with Hémisphère Sub ?

 - Exceptional diving conditions make our proposed sites accessible to experienced divers as well as beginners.
If you didn’t dive for a long time, we can offer readjustment or progressive dives. 

What are the instructor’s qualifications ?

 - All our instructors hold a 1st degree State diploma (Bees 1°) 

What are your emergency, care and evacuation means ?

- Both our boats are equipped with oxygen therapy and first aid kits, VHF and portables phones. All the instructors are trained in first aid techniques, and regularly take refresher courses.
For more important problems, French Polynesia provides a very reliable medical evacuation system by plane, allowing a fast access to Papeete’s up to date decompression caisson.  
 

FORMATION

Can we qualify for a level with you ?

 - We deliver ANMP and CEDIP levels. Level 1 can be passed in around 4 days (5 dives and  a theory course). You can even get this level diving in different Polynesian centers, providing you acquire a diving notebook validating your dives. For example : One dive in Tahiti, one in Huahine and three in Raiatea