suggestions for snorkeling excursions on PG

[micked10@earthlink.net]

Hi,
I am new to this forum but have been reading all of the wonderful information. We are going on a 14 night PG cruise in Sept. and love to snorkel. I have seen suggestions on the drift snorkel in Rangirea but when I read the list of shore excursions on the PG I do not see that offered. We can not sign up for our excursions until May 4th, but I want to be ready and know the ones I want. Did you do the drift snorkel from a private vendor or through the ship?? Right now the only excursion offered is the Snorkeling Aquarium in Rangirea. Also, what do you experts suggest for Bora Bora, Huahine, Rarotongo and Aitutaki? We are not overnight in Bora bora but we are in Moorea. What would you suggest there??
This is our first Regent cruise although we have been on 22 other cruises and love to travel. We are retired and this cruise will be for our 47th anniversary. Can't wait.
Thanks so much for any suggestions that you can give us.

[Dreps]

I just double-checked on the Regent site to see what excursions were offered in Rangiroa, and even in the near-term, there is no drift snorkeling mentioned. (There seems to be a drift scuba excursion.) We took the drift snorkeling excursion through Regent in February 2006. We encountered some pretty strong currents, as we ended up going against rather than with the current. I am a fairly good swimmer, and I started getting pretty tired, and went back to the boat, I didn't see that much either, although I did see several sharks. Only one of the boats had shade, and the other was extremely hot. In the end, Regent refunded everyone 20% because of the experience. It is possible that Regent hasn't found an operator that it is happy with. As you may know, the excursions on the longer PG cruises are not as well-established as those for the regular 7-day cruises.

[micked10@earthlink.net]

Thanks Dreps for your reply. No, I didn't know that the shore excursions on the longer cruises were not as well established as the 7 day cruises. What is the reason for that?
I may find something else in Rang. anyway even if they add that one. We are both good swimmers but we are 70 years old ( mind you a very active 70!) and I think I would be scared of current that was strong. I'm sure there will be something else available. Thanks for your description of the excursion. It really helps. If you have any other suggestions for the other islands please let us know.
Thanks

[twa1011]

I didn't see your post until after I had started a thread the other day -- I am also looking for the same thing. We are going to Rangiroa on a 10 day trip on the PG in August. I found the write-up below on a site about Rangiroa -- it sounds promising (and, when you click on the link, the boat in the photograph appears to have an awning). Hope this is of help to you.

"The unique experience of drift-snorkeling—jumping off a boat and being swept at great speed through the Pass of Tiputa, the entrance to Rangi's lagoon—is almost as thrilling as sky-diving. There's clear visibility of up to 120 feet, so you can watch as sharks, dolphins, turtles, and rays swimming beneath you get sucked into the lagoon by the forceful current (you get sucked in, too, but you stay on the surface). A two-hour excursion costs about $50 per person when you book with husband-and-wife team Cosetta & Pascal Rohde (689-960-331; www.snorkeling.pf (http://www.snorkeling.pf/)). They take safety seriously: One of their staff members always goes into the water with you, while another hovers nearby in the boat to make sure no one gets carried off in the wrong direction."

[micked10@earthlink.net]

Thanks TWA 1011 for your post. I had found that trip in my previous searches but thought maybe the PG offered a drift snorkeling. i noticed that they have in the past. I am still debating about booking that independently since the current sounds as if it could be strong. My husband and I have snorkeled for years but we are now 70 ( ugh)--mind you--a young 70! I am not sure we should do that one. Maybe we will look for something else when we dock There might be some other type of snorkeling. I have booked 2 other excursions--one on Huahine and one on Aitutaki. I think we will just rent a car on Moorea and find some beaches ourselves.
thanks for the Info. have a great trip!