Before opening the FAKARAVA DIVING CENTER, Serge and Carine HOWALD constructed a 12 meter steel sailboat at their home in Geneva. They did this over an 8 year period during outside of working hours in their free time. 

Beginning in 1992, they took to sea at Marseille setting sail first for Gibraltar and then on to Capo Verde before crossing the Atlantic to Brazil, where they remained for nearly 2 years. After this, they sailed up toward the Caribbean. 

After 2 years in the West Indies, they went through Panama Canal and on to the Galapagos, where they passed a magical month.

From the Galapagos, they took 28 days at sea to reach the Marquesas,

After the Marquesas, then went on to Kiribati and the atoll of Palmyra, where they remained for 5 months, all alone like Robinson Crusoe. Finally, they journeyed for 15 days to reach Tahiti.  

During their travels they have been able to dive almost everywhere thanks to the portable compressor (Bauer 6m3) that they had on their boat;  they have enjoyed very beautiful dives everywhere, but the best have been in Polynesia.

The ‘FAKARAVA DIVING CENTER’ is a small convivial family operation catering for a maximum of 5 or 6 divers, diving as only one group. This means that we have the advantages of not having to wait around on the boat before the dive, while different groups prepare to dive in different places, nor having to wait around after the dive for pick up by the boat. This can be an advantage for those that may suffer from seasickness, as the waves and swell can be quite big in the north pass

The club is open every day of the year. Serge , instructor BEES 1, has 6000 dives on Fakarava and Toau, and Carine, will welcome you and take of you as you discover the magnificent marine life that abounds around the atolls of Fakarava and Toau. It is truly a privileged environment to dive in, experience and enjoy.

Serge and Carine can come to the pensions situated in the north of Fakarava to pick you up by car or even directly by boat . 

The club can offer diving for all levels, private diving trips and tutoring for beginners, but it is recommended to make a reservation in advance. 

It takes only about 20 minutes to go to dive sites in the north pass, (even less to some of the dive sites inside the lagoon), and for those who wish to dive at the south pass near TETAMANU or go to the atoll of TOAU about an hour is required. Visits to either of these places are subject to weather conditions, the state of the tides and the lagoon, which we check early in the morning. If conditions are favourable, a trip can be made.

EQUIPMENT

Boat:  Our boat is a semi-rigid ‘AQUAPRO ‘, 8 meters long, very comfortable and spacious with a HONDA 225cv engine.  

Compressor :  BAUER compressor mini verticus 14M3/hour.

Cylinders:  Steel tanks (12 litres and 15 litres).  

B.C.Ds:  MARES Vector Origin.  

Wetsuits: AQUALUNG 3mm shorty, men and woman.  

Regulators:  DIN CALLIPSO.  

Masks:  CRESSI Focus,

Fins:  Stratos FP ( size 2 1/2 to 12).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

Rules of diving in French Polynesia apply: 

Maximum depths are limited as follows: 

29 meters for the divers level Open Water and Advanced Open Water Diver Padi, Naui and SSI. 

49 meters for the divers level Rescue Diver Padi, Naui and SSI 

60 meters for the superior levels 

For those divers who are already certified, we will ask to see your certification and your diving book. 

For beginners, no formalities are necessary.