Don’t miss the underwater Moai experience‼️You’ve traveled so far, and it would be a shame to skip this unique adventure. Dive in, or you might regret not doing so [SighR]
[StarR] Dive Site Overview:
[OneR] Name: Submerged Moai
[TwoR] The Moai is located at a depth of about 23 meters, so you need to be an Advanced Open Water (AOW) diver to explore it.
[ThreeR] February is summertime in the Southern Hemisphere, with water temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. Even with a 3mm wetsuit, you may still feel quite cold, with your scalp tingling 🥶. It’s highly recommended to wear a thicker wetsuit and a hood for better comfort.
[FourR] Visibility is outstanding, reaching up to 35 meters, but the clearer the water, the fewer fish you’ll see. You might occasionally spot a few giant tube-nosed fish, but most of what you’ll encounter is hard coral (Figures 3-5), which is thriving. The Moai is nestled among this area of hard coral. If you’re accustomed to the vibrant and colorful underwater scenes of Southeast Asia, you might find this site a bit monochromatic.
[StarR] Dive Shops: There are two dive shops to choose from, both conveniently located by the pier, next to each other (Figure 7)
[OneR] Orca Diving Center
55,000 pesos per dive, including full equipment. Dive times: Monday to Saturday, 9:00, 10:30, 15:00
[TwoR] Mike Rape Diving Center
35,000 pesos per dive, including full equipment. Dive times: Monday to Saturday, 8:45, 10:45, 14:30, 16:30
I opted for the latter, as they provide English-speaking dive guides. I registered and tested the equipment and wetsuit the day before (Figures 8-9 show the dive shop’s equipment room). On the day of the dive, I suited up at the dive shop and then boarded the boat with my gear. A white, heavyset man was also diving with us that day.
Despite the 25-degree water, he wore a 3mm short-sleeved wetsuit, highlighting the remarkable differences in body types across different individuals. Two divers were assigned two dive guides, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience!
The dive site is just a 5-minute boat ride from the pier. In the morning, the pier is bustling with activity, and we even met a fisherman who had caught a tuna, drawing a crowd of well-wishers! (Figure 6)
‼️Tips:
[OneR] Wear a hood! Wear a hood! Wear a hood!
[TwoR] Bringing your own camera can save you a lot of money. Both dive shops offer photo and video services for about 100 RMB per dive.
[ThreeR] If you’re interested in other dive sites on Easter Island, here are some options:
——Inside the bay: Mana Vai, Vai A Heva, Papa Haoa, The Cliff
——Outside the bay: The Garden, The Motu.
(Experience from February 10, 2018, dive prices are recently updated.)
