If I had to choose...

[gusvs]

...only 3 islands in French Polynesia to visit for scuba diving and relaxing (total stay in FP 14 days) which ones would it be? At the moment I am thinking Rangiroa, Bora Bora and Tikehau. Other ideas? We prefer big pelagics to macro stuff. Live-abaoard is not an option.

Thanks fo any input.

 

[vetdiver]

Hi -

OK, well the diving is not the best, but Moorea is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[gusvs]

Would you guys recommend Tikehau over Rangiroa if you could choose only one to visit?

 

[vetdiver]

Haven't been to Tiekhau, so cannot comment. I am sure you will be happy either way - Fr Polynesia topside is amazing, and underwater...let's say that sharks abound. (Short tale - I was in Raiatea about 5 yrs ago, and I went diving with a French expat - we moored outside the lagoon, and I was getting ready to backroll in, and he said, "One thing - don't roll in on them..." I looked back, and the water was teeming with black-tipped reef sharks! When there was no food immediately forthcoming, they dissipated a bit, but one curious lemon shark followed us for most of the dive.) Have a great time. Wish I was going!

 

[gusvs]

Vetdiver - thanks for your info. I am sure we will have a fantastic time.

 

[Mike Veitch]

I lived in the Tuamotus for 2 years. I would suggest Rangiroa and Fakarava over Tikehau. Tik only has about 4 dive sites and they are not all that great. Go to Fakarava and if at all possible spend maybe 2 days at the north pass and 3 days at the south pass (a small resort i can't think of the name of for some reason) It has the best dive in all of French Polynesia.... look at the Tahiti Tourism website or contact them, they will know and can get hold of the resort at the south pass...

 

[gusvs]

Mike, thank you for your input. Do you mean that the diving in Tikehau is useless compared to Fakarava (I want to see sharks)? My fiancé has kind of already decided on Tikehau (because of the Pearl Beach Resort). Is it worth talking her into changing her mind to stay at the Maitai in Fakarava instead?

 

[donncha]

I learned to dive in Rangiroa in 1997, and this year returned there.
We dived at Rangiroa, Bora Bora and Huahine. Rangiroa is still great. Bora Bora, while still a beautiful island, I would not really recommend if you only have 14 days. Maupiti is much nicer, but there is no dive operation there. Bora Bora lagoon appaears to have some problems, apparently caused by overwater construction. A lot of sand and algae growth.
We stopped over in Tikehau, and were sorry we did not stay there, it looked really beautiful. If I was going back I'd go to Tikehau/Rangiroa, Maupiti and Huahine.

 

[1fastcat]

Hey Gus,

Mike has it right - Rangiroa is a must dive location. I also talked to alot of divers and wished that we would have done fakareva instead of Bora Bora. FYI it is only a 10 minute jump flight from Rangiroa. Both of these locations are huge atolls with massive reefs. Finally, I would suggest stopping off in Moorea. It is absolutely incredible physical beauty, with lots to do, especially if you like hiking in rainforests. It is also one of the most affordable places in FP. Speaking of cost, we did not find FP to be much more costly that other places we have vacationed i.e. nice dinner was $25-35 per person, decent bottle of wine $35-45, no different that a decent restaurant in LA. Hard alcohol drinks and beer are costly at the hotels. If you are on a budget, go to the local markets, and you can buy juice, food and beer very inexpensively compared to the hotels.

My dive operator was Top Dive and I would highly recommend them. The DM's in Rangiroa where some of the best (unobtrusive) I have experienced.