Against the current

Where we dive, Tiputa Pass, the under water condition is the most extreme when the current flows out in the open blue. Whirlpools form tornado-like downward draft under the sea. The greatest fear for me is diving in the current, where the current goes in one direction, the boat in another. You could hardly see the bubbles on the surface of the water with the surf and white wash building up strong. This was exactly the same situation we were in during our dives in the famous Shark Central at Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa. Black Tip sharks are stealth looking, striking and sleek. I find them extremely attractive. They are smaller and may sometimes be preyed upon by other bigger sharks. The Silver Tip sharks are swift, powerful and highly territorial at 80 feet deep. Their presence demands your attention particularly at the outgoing current that we are in. The current is sweeping strong that it even makes hanging on to the rocks an impossible task, especially when you have to duck fast and fin swiftly behind some caves before being swept away from the group. This is where I saw walls of sharks in tiers of various species right out front! It is just awesome to be here, Rangiroa's best-kept secret at Shark Central, unmatched anywhere on earth.

Filter fishes become active in here when the current and tidal flows meet between the passes. At the changing tides, the dolphins will play, literally cork screwing around the packs of Silver Reef sharks, occasionally whacking the tails of these sharks, as if to say that they are masters here. The sharks are huge, possibly the biggest this pair of eyes have ever set sight on since I started diving. It is unmatched even with the marine life in Micronesia where we have dived. Unfortunately, the Manta Rays are not in sight during our visits. They are the gentlest and most gracious of all the marine creatures I have ever known. Their underwater acrobatic ballet will keep you enchanted till you run out of air.