Hi there, we re traveling with a group for a bareboat catamaran cruise of the Society Islands in late April, early May of 2026 and thinking of tacking on three days for Fakarava or something similar so a couple of us can scuba dive for a day ( we do not have to see any seasonal event, just a nice, relaxed beautiful dive would be great) and leave a day to relax before flying to Raiatea via Papeete or direct, day dependent. Most of our group do not dive but we all love to snorkel so wondering what may be a better place to stay, atoll or otherwise, to accommodate snorkelers and a couple of divers for a couple days? I suspect there will be 4 others with us, perhaps 6. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also opening to visiting late September.
Question Fakarava advice
- Thread starter joalemma
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moorish8idol
Contributor
From the Society Islands, the Tuamotus aren't exactly "on the way" as there are no direct flights to Fakarava from there, and will necessitate a transfer through Papeete. Some Tahiti Air flights will also stop in Rangiroa on the way (extending the one hour flight by several hours) so you may also want to look at flight schedules and try to ensure you get a direct flight (that doesn't necessarily happen every day, depending on the day and season).
That being said, Fakarava is my favourite! It is amazing for divers as well as for snorkelers in the lagoon. You may want to consider more than 3 days though keeping in mind the travel there and then back to Papeete for your onward flight. I stayed at Veke Veke Resort on the north part of Fakarava and cannot recommend it enough. There are bungalows for families and couples, all within a few metres of the beautiful lagoon. Its a family-run affair and the included breakfast and dinner were always spectacular. In good weather, you dine on the dock and can see the sharks swimming by! There is plenty of reef with all of the accompanying fish and reef sharks that you can just walk and then swim out to (e.g. there are sharks in waist-deep water). There were also bikes you could rent to go explore the little village. I also enjoyed an amazing massage at the Havaiki Lodge (a short bike ride), which is a more upscale lodging option for your group. There were also a couple of great snacks right next to Veke Veke in case you found yourself there during lunch. For diving, I strongly recommend O2 Divers above all of the other outfits. Do make reservations ahead of time as they are a smaller outfit and may not have as much capacity during less peak seasons. Enjoy!
That being said, Fakarava is my favourite! It is amazing for divers as well as for snorkelers in the lagoon. You may want to consider more than 3 days though keeping in mind the travel there and then back to Papeete for your onward flight. I stayed at Veke Veke Resort on the north part of Fakarava and cannot recommend it enough. There are bungalows for families and couples, all within a few metres of the beautiful lagoon. Its a family-run affair and the included breakfast and dinner were always spectacular. In good weather, you dine on the dock and can see the sharks swimming by! There is plenty of reef with all of the accompanying fish and reef sharks that you can just walk and then swim out to (e.g. there are sharks in waist-deep water). There were also bikes you could rent to go explore the little village. I also enjoyed an amazing massage at the Havaiki Lodge (a short bike ride), which is a more upscale lodging option for your group. There were also a couple of great snacks right next to Veke Veke in case you found yourself there during lunch. For diving, I strongly recommend O2 Divers above all of the other outfits. Do make reservations ahead of time as they are a smaller outfit and may not have as much capacity during less peak seasons. Enjoy!
autrichon gris
Contributor
I can't agree more about Fakarava (north, i couldn't go to the famous south pass with the 400 sharks when i was there), the only place were i saw a bunch of sharks suddenly splitting because 3 or 4 manta rays were coming through... wow !
I was with Dive Spirit Fakarava, was ok.
I was with Dive Spirit Fakarava, was ok.
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