Station Usage/Visitor Guide
Before you come
Consult our "WHAT TO BRING" page on recommendations for items to bring on your trip to French Polynesia.
You may need to obtain a French Visa depending on the purpose, length of stay, and nationality.
There is no malaria in French Polynesia. It is recommended that you receive shots for hepatitis and tentanus before you arrive.
Use of Facilities
The University of California Berkeley’s Richard B. Gump Research Station is dedicated to research and education, and consequently, these are the priorities of its staff and for the use of its facilities. Other uses not directly related to research and educational activities (such as using Station vehicles for shopping) are also permitted, but are subsidiary. The Station is run according to an honor system. We do not constantly monitor visitors but serious breaches of trust are likely to lead to permanent expulsion from the Station. Please remember that the facilities are shared and everyone has an equal right to their use.
If you have any problems, questions, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let the staff know. Our job is to ensure that you achieve your research and educational goals as safely, efficiently and enjoyably as possible. Our aim is for everyone to leave wanting to come back!
The Station is generally known by the local people in Moorea and Tahiti as the “Université de Californie Berkeley”, Berkeley, UCB, or Station Gump.
STAFF
Neil Davies - Executive Director and Research Scientist
Frank Murphy – General Manager
Jacques You Sing – Maintenance and grounds
Tony You Sing - Maintenance and grounds
Irma You Sing – Housekeeper (waterfront)
Valentine Brotherson – Housekeeper (hillside) and Administrative Assistant
TIME
We are in the same time zone as Hawaii (i.e., 2 hours behind California time during the northern winter and 3 hours behind California during the northern summer).
LAW
The Station operates under UC regulations and French Polynesia laws. In particular, we emphasize that the use and/or possession of illegal drugs is strictly forbidden. The Gump Station staff is obliged to report any breach of the laws on illegal drugs to local law enforcement, leading to immediate expulsion from the Station and potential criminal proceedings in local courts.
Other laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Wearing seatbelts is compulsory (please report any problems with the belts in the cars to a member of staff)
2. Smoking is prohibited within buildings
3. Pets are not allowed at the Station, nor are the Station animals allowed in any building.
4. Neither vehicles nor boats must be used under the influence of alcohol
HEALTH
Emergency Services - Dial 18
If you have a minor problem, there is a First Aid kit in the dorm and the Pharmacist in Maharepa is helpful. For a more serious problem, call the local doctor (see phone numbers below).
The doctors hours are: Mon-Fri 7-12 and 2-6; Sat 7-12 and 5-6; Sun/holiday 8-10am.
The pharmacy hours are: Mon-Fri 7:30-12 and 2-5; Sat 8-12 and 3:30-6; Sun 8-11am.
HOUSEKEEPING
Limited housekeeping services are provided in the community areas (e.g., sweeping of the dorm classroom/living room, cleaning the dorm bathrooms, laundering the floor mats, dishtowels and once a week the bed linens). Visitors are responsible for their own rooms, and for washing their dishes.
KITCHEN
1. Rats, mice, ants, and roaches are a problem if cooking areas and other places with food are not kept scrupulously clean. Please clean all surfaces and put all food away (including unpeeled fruit). Put trash out every night in a closed bag in the large trash bins next to the road.
Please comply with the recycling instructions posted in the kitchen and on the green trash containers. There is recycling on Moorea. Clean and empty plastic bottles without lids, cans, soda cans, cardboard, and newspapers are collected. Glass bottles, batteries and oil can be deposed of in facilities at the local supermarket and gas station.
2. The flash-heaters, stoves and barbecues use propane from small tanks. There is an extra tank near the barbeque. If the propane runs out, change the tank and make sure that the empty tank gets exchanged for a full one at ARE, the local supermarket. Charge it to the Station account.
3. At the end of your stay please clean out your food from the shelves and fridges.
LAUNDRY
There is a coin-operated washing machine (detergent is provided) and dryer in the main dorm for visitor use.
SECURITY
1. Violent and major crimes are very unusual on Moorea but petty theft is not unusual. So, when you are out-and-about on Moorea, don’t leave your snorkeling gear, bicycle, etc. unattended. Make sure that you lock your bicycle and have someone stay with your gear when you go snorkeling at the public beach.
2. On the Station, don’t leave SCUBA gear, Walkmans, CD’s, sunglasses etc. unattended in plain view. They could also get stolen. It is advisable to lock the waterfront bungalows (rm. 8-11). Note that the dock and 3 meters from the water are public property in French Polynesia. Keep lockers, kayaks and the fuel shed near the dock locked (we have had gas tanks stolen from the fuel shed).
3. Please exercise discretion about inviting people you do not know very well inside Station buildings – you are responsible for your guests and you should remain with them while they are on Station property.
ANIMALS
Do not adopt local animals or in any way encourage them onto the Station property (e.g., feeding them). Animals are not allowed in any of the buildings.
ELECTRICITY
Moorea has some of the most expensive electrical power in the world. Please turn off lights, fans and appliances when you are not using them. The electrical system is somewhat sporadic and power is interrupted regularly. Do not leave anything plugged in and turned on that will be damaged by outages or voltage surges. Moorea has 220 Volt 60 cycle electricity. If you plug a US appliance (110 Volt) into the European wall power sockets, it will be immediately destroyed. Beware of adaptors that allow you to insert American plugs into the local European (French-style) sockets – always double check your appliance can handle 220V. Most laptops are OK because they have a built in transformer. The Station has transformers to convert 220v into 110v. These transformers draw 10% of their rated capacity when not in use. Please turn off or unplug transformers when you are not using them.
WATER
Moorea has a municipal water system that provides all inhabitants with fresh water. There is no filtration system and the sediment load and water pressure vary depending upon the amount of rain that has fallen recently. Flow is usually just a trickle. Gump has its own water pressure system for hot and some of the cold water. This system uses tanks that are filled with city water and then the water is delivered via a pressure pump to keep constant water pressure. Excessive use of water at the Station can cause these tanks to empty and we will be without water for several hours. As a result, please make sure the toilet that you’ve just flushed stops running or it will drain the tank.
DRINKING WATER
Many locals drink the municipal water, but many do not, especially after heavy rains. The water is fine for cooking, brushing teeth etc. but most housing at the Station has a separate (small) faucet attached to a filtration system; use this for drinking water.
SEWAGE
Moorea does not have a sewage system. Everyone uses septic systems that rely upon bacterial action and are thus highly susceptible to overfilling and chemical imbalance. Do not use chlorine-based cleaners in toilets. Do not put any chemicals other than normal household ones down any drain or toilet. To help the bacterial breakdown of the sewage, please don’t put any trash or feminine hygiene products down the toilet -- there are trash receptacles in each toilet stall for these.
Communications
Mailing Address: UC Berkeley Gump Station, BP 244, Maharepa - 98728, Moorea, French Polynesia
COMPUTERS, E-MAIL, AND WEB ACCESS
Visitors are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop, but the Station does provide a few machines for shared use.
Do not assume that any files left on general use Station computers will still be there when you come back. The Station is NOT responsible for backing them up, and periodically the hard-drives are erased, without prior warning, during routine maintenance. So please ensure that you back up your work to mobile storage media after each session.
There is a laser printer available for use on the LAN in the library. The Station provides the toner but please buy your own paper. The same applies to the photocopier. Note that the local paper size is the European standard A4.
LOCAL SERVICES
Markets tend to open at 6 am, close for lunch from 12 about 6 p.m. Most markets are open on Sundays for only a short time in the early morning (e.g., ARE is open 6am to 8am). Banks are open on weekdays only (there is an ATM in Maharepa and at Club Med); usually 8-12 and 1:30-4. All the banks exchange dollars for francs and charge a per-transaction fee. The post office is open during the following hours: Mon-Thur 7:30-12 and 1:30-4; Fri 7:30-12 and 1:30-3; Sat 7:30-9:30 . Many other stores sell stamps.
CARS
Anyone wishing to operate a Station vehicle must complete the following form on arrival:
UCB Gump Station
Car Use Form
In order to drive a Gump Station vehicle you must:
- Have a valid drivers license, and have had it for at least two years.
- Be at least 23 yrs old.
- Provide a copy of your license to Valentine.
- Report any damage or vehicle problem to Tony.
- Return the vehicle at least as clean as you found it.
- Obey all motor vehicle laws of French Polynesia, which include:
- Driver and passengers must wear seatbelts while vehicle is moving
- Driver must not be under the influence of alcohol
- Speed limit on Moorea is 60 km/hr
Be aware that:
- The Gendarmes often set up roadblocks to check vehicles for insurance, seatbelts, and to check drivers for alcohol levels.
- When turning left you are responsible not to turn in front of cars approaching from the front and to watch for those behind that may try to pass on your left. Â
I have read and understand all of the above, and I agree to pay the first 20,000 CFP of any damage done to a station vehicle due to my negligence.
Signed: ________________________________________________
Date: ___________________
There are 4x4 Land Rovers available to visitors on a pay per km basis. Visitors keep track of their usage. Whenever you go on a trip, make sure that you coordinate with others, so that everyone can make the most efficient use of the vehicles. Keep track of your mileage in a logbook. Fill up with gas (diesel - gazole) at the Mobil Station in Paopao where UCB has an account. Just sign for it and record the number of the Vehicle. There is a compact car available for runs to the store. This is included in the accommodation fee but trips are limited to 1 HOUR maximum.
Important driving safety note: Take great care when pulling out of the Station and when turning into a driveway. In French Polynesia YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for ensuring that nobody hits you from behind when you are making a turn. Cars often try to pass when you are turning left even if you have your blinker on!
BOATS
Anyone wishing to operate any Station boat needs to be approved first. The law in French Polynesia requires that anyone driving a boat with an engine >7HP must have a French license. We can make arrangements for you to take the test with an English translator. In addition to the motor boats, the Station also has outrigger canoes, 1 and 2-person kayaks, and a laser sailing dingy.
All motor boats are available for those who have a French boating license so long as they keep within the lagoon. Only the two larger boats (Parker and Boston Whaler) can be taken outside the lagoon, and only then if qualified Station employees are driving them. Special exceptions might be made for those who have extensive experience of handling boats at sea and need to go outside the reef for research or educational purposes.
Fuel for the smaller two-stroke engines must contain 2% oil and can be obtained from the Mobil Station as for the cars. The four-stroke engines on the larger boats take regular gas. Visitors needing to use the skiff are issued a gas tank for their use during their stay and keep a record of how many refills they use.
For safety, when using any of the boats, you must have a shore contact who knows of destination and expected time back. Also fill this information on the board in the main dorm. You must take sufficient life vests and paddles. Life vests must be worn when sailing the Laser dinghy.
Boats should not be operated after dark without special permission from the Station management. Operating any boat (including kayaks) under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
MONEY
The local currency is CFP (Pacific Francs) which is fixed to the EURO (in 2005 the exchange rate was approximately 100 CFP / US$). French Polynesia has announced plans to switch completely to the EURO in the next few years, though at the time of writing, no firm timetable has been determined.
There are bank machines at the airports and shopping centers. Most bank machines accept debit or credit cards from major international banks (VISA, MASTERCARD). Most stores and restaurants accept credit cards.
STATION FEES
Check website for latest fees (which are set in the local currency CFP). Rates are reviewed each year and while we try to keep them stable, rates can change at any time without notice. Please keep track of your use of vehicles, boats, SCUBA, phone and fax, as you will need these to fill in the usage form on the Station website. The use form is emailed to gump@moorea.berkeley.edu, verified and an invoice emailed to you with instructions for payment (wire transfer or check to Berkeley).
MAINTENANCE
There is a small tool kit available to visitors in the SCUBA compressor room. The tools should be used in the wet lab and returned immediately after use. Please do not take tools out of the other worksheds. If you need more tools or any assistance, please ask Frank, Jacques or Tony (their priorities are safety, sanitation, research and teaching related repairs). If anything is broken, leave a note on the board in the main dorm, or tell a member of staff, and it will be fixed as soon as possible.
SCUBA
Compressor, tanks and some lead weights are available but visitors need to supply the rest of their gear. Diving is strictly controlled by University regulations and is governed from campus not by us! The use of any Station facilities for diving is only permitted for those authorized IN WRITING by the UC Berkeley Diving Safety Officer (DSO) before arrival in Moorea. In order to be approved you must have passed the UC Berkeley Scientific Diver Course (or an equivalent that has been recognized by the UCB DSO), have an up-to-date medical, have logged sufficient dives in the last year, and be current with CPR, first aid, and oxygen administration. All visitors wishing to dive should contact the DSO, Jim Hayward (ucbdiver@uclink4.berkeley.edu), for further details. No matter how experienced a diver you are, if you do not have written approval from the Berkeley DSO, you will NOT be able to dive at the Station or use any of our facilities in relation to any dives (such as boats or tanks).
GUMP STATION PHONE NUMBERS
MAIN OFFICE (8am - 5pm): 56.13.74 (Tel) , 56.32.72 (Fax)
NEIL: 72.25.00 (Vini-Cell)
FRANK: 79 99 36 (Vini-Cell)
BUNGALOW 1: 56.48.24
DORM: 56.57.22
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
AMBULANCE AND FIRE (Pompier): 18
DOCTOR (Dr. Jonville): 56.32.32
HOSPITAL (at Afareaitu): 56.24.24 or 56.23.23
GENDARMERIE: 55.25.05 (or 17 for town police)
DENTIST (Dr. Avet): 56.32.44
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
CRIOBE: 56.13.45
AIR MOOREA: 55.06.01
AIR TAHITI: 86.42.42
AIR NEW ZEALAND: 54.07.47
HAWAIIAN: 42.15.00
VOYAGENCE (Travel Agent): 42.72.13
MOOREA FERRY/EXPRESS (at Vaiare): 56 43 43
AREMITI FERRY (at Vaiare): 56.31.10
STORE OPENING TIMES
Note that most places close for lunch and that alcohol cannot be purchased at stores after 6pm or at all on Sunday and holidays. Please let us know if you notice any of these have changed.
Store Day Morning Afternoon
Stores in general M-F 7:30-11:30 1:30-5
Sa 7:30-12 Closed
Bank of Tahiti M-F 8-12 1:30-4:30
Bank of Polynesia M-F 7:45-12 1:15-3:45
Post Office M-Th 7:30-12 1:30-4
F 7:30-12 1:30-3:00
Sa 7:30-09 Closed
Doctor in Maharepa M-F 7-12 2-6
Sa 7-12 2-6
ARE supermarket M-Sa 6-12 2-6
Su 5:30-8 Closed
Tran Pharmacy M-F 7:30-12 2-5:30
Sa 8:00-12 3:30-6
Su 8:00-11 Closed