Pitcairn Underwater World

2009:
27th January - 10th February

2010:
2nd February - 16th February

Diving the Pitcairn Islands is a very rare opportunity. These sparsely populated islands offer unspoiled beaches and reefs for first time exploration. The majority of reefs are waiting first-time-ever underwater exploration. To capture this unique experience, the editor of Dive New Zealand/ Dive Pacific magazine, Dave Moran, joined our July 2006 voyage and wrote about his experiences in the 2007 Dive Annual; - see his article on the discovery of the wreck of the 1860's Yankee clipper Wild Wave in the waters of Oeno Atoll during this voyage. If you share our sense of adventure and exploration, don't miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime.

The itinerary is listed below - and is based on the assumption of fair sea and weather conditions.

Day 1 Fly to Mangareva (Gambier Islands) on Air Tahiti leaving 5.50AM on Tuesdays (the once-a-week flight). Cross the lagoon on the Air Tahiti taxi boat to Rikitea village, where you will find the R/V Bounty Bay waiting at the main wharf. Depart for Pitcairn in the afternoon after clearing customs and immigration.

Day 2/3 At sea, watching for sea birds and whales on the way to Pitcairn. Or for the more laid-back approach, bring a good book. It is a perfect opportunity to unwind from stresses of everyday life in the western world and enter the easy pace of the Pacific islands.

Day 3 Arrival at Pitcairn Island early in the day and disembark ashore to board with local families. Pitcairners will assist as guides in a tour around the island.

Day 3/4 Diving Pitcairn waters. We could pick you up early from the Bounty Bay wharf and organize three dives a day if you are really that keen – or perhaps you are an afternoon diver only?. Mostly it is a matter of mixing quality time underwater with exciting things to do on land, phew! Tough choice. Weather dependent, we recommend diving the shipwrecks, including the HMS Bounty and S/V Cornwallis, plus diving the coral formations of Down-rope and Tautama. After diving we will drop you back on Pitcairn for the night with your host family

Day 5 Diving Pitcairn waters. The same schedule as yesterday, except that after one dive, we will be setting sail for Henderson. The voyage will be overnight.

Day 6 We arrive at the remote and wild southern end of Henderson Island at midday - and go for a dive, get your cameras ready, its shark time. In the afternoon we will be anchoring further north in the lee of the island. Time and weather permitting we may even be going ashore.

Day 7 This day is a mixture of diving and shore time. Life is about choices and this might prove to be a hard one on a diver, because Henderson is home to hundreds of thousands of birds and a myriad of other indigenous animals and vegetation. Henderson is considered to be the most pristine tropical island in the world. In the afternoon we depart for our overnight voyage to Pitcairn.

Day 8 We arrive at Pitcairn in the morning. Choices for the day include shore leave, or more hard work with your camera underwater. In the evening we set sail for Oeno.

Day 9 Arrival at Oeno in the early morning. Oeno has a magnificent inner lagoon with access (weather dependent) via a wide and shallow passage. The pass and outer reef are definitely the spots to dive. The picture of the diver surrounded by the enormous school of Barracuda (on the right) is proof. If you feel like exploring uninhabited islands and relaxing on golden sandy beach then Oeno offers an easy accessible and picture perfect opportunity. For those keener on going below the waves we will aim for plenty of dives.

Day 10 Why leave? It is beautiful and you will be happy to do more exploration on Oeno, or jump in our inflatable for more underwater adventures. We depart in the afternoon for Temoe Atoll and the Gambier Islands.

Day 11 At sea, cruising to the Gambier Islands. A perfect moment to relax, sleep and refuel your energy after so many dives and experiences.

Day 12 Dive Temoe Atoll in the morning and arrive in Gambier Islands in the afternoon. This lagoon is part of enormous protected inland sea with a circumference of approximately 90 km. There are 5 big high islands and another 18 smaller high islands and motus. Do the math and imagine the sheer amount of reef and beaches!

Day 13/14 Visit islands in the Gambier lagoon and/or dive their surrounding waters. You can explore the islands and/or dive - your choice.

Day 15 Time ashore at Rikitea village early in the morning, then fly from Gambier to Tahiti, departing at 9am for the ferry ride to the airport. Your flight will arrive in Tahiti at 4pm (Tahiti time)

For a place on our diving expeditions you need to be a licensed and reasonably experienced diver. We aim at minimizing risks and ask you to stay within the limits of non-decompression diving.

Price:
Our two-week Pitcairn diving expeditions are priced at US$3,200 per person. This price includes: all dives and use of dive gear. (You are also more than welcome to bring along your own gear). All food, coffee, tea etc are free. We sell a limited amount of alcohol on board. You are welcome to bring your own drinks, alcohol and food without additional charge.

For further information email us

Underwater photos by Martin Smith / Dan Burton / Chris Brick
Exercise Bounty Bay - Jan/Feb 2003