Diving with big fish - Socorro or French Polynesia?

[Liberty01]

Hi,
thinking about a special trip to a big fish destination. Galapagos, Cocos and Malpelo seem too cold and too hard to me (very strong current!). I am a bit spoilt after several liveaboards in Sudan and Maldives.
Options include:
Socorro around Christmas with a long crossing and rather cold water.
French Polynesia (liveaboard from Makemo to Fakarava) with calmer seas. But how bad are the currents? And is it as good as Socorro for big stuff?

Who has dived both places and can compare?

Best regards,
Liberty

 

[BDSC]

I have not dove in French Polynesia but I have done Socorro and to date it was my best overall dive trip. We went in November and didn't even need a wetsuit. Water was probably 80 or so. The mantas there are huge and diver friendly. As soon as we hit the water here they come. Saw a whale shark on two dives and plenty of various sharks. It's a great destination. We went in 2014 and are returning in 2019 on the Rocio Del Mar. I would highly recommend that liveaboard. I had to book it that far in advance to get the entire boat.