Maldives, French Polynesia or Australia?

[danzn16]

Help me decide! February trip. We’ve done Maldives twice already and love it. Could go back to Maldives again.

Or should I do something new? Thinking either French Polynesia or Australia?

Looks like Rangiroa and Fakavara are tops for FP. Is the diving here as good as Maldives or better?

What about Australia? How does the diving compare? I know this would be a big trip cause Australia is massive and I don’t know anything about it other than love boards are usually out of Cairnes, that ningaloo reef is great for whale sharks and sea dragons are on the south - and all that is in very different far locations lol!

Appreciate any experience and advice

 

[passeparici]

I don't know about Australia but French Polynesia is top. You have the "wall of sharks" in Fakarava and Rangiroa is also nice. It is also very nice to visit (much nicer than Maldives). If it is an "only dives" trip, French Polynesia might not be better than Maldives though.

 

[Living4Experiences]

I've been to Australia (Sydney, Perth, Ningaloo) and French Polynesia but not the Maldives. The whale sharks don't arrive in Exmouth (Ningaloo) until late March/early April. In Australia, dive guides, tanks and weights are generally not included on dive boats, so you have to pay extra for those. IMO, that area is not worth a dedicated dive trip from the U.S.

Here are my trip reports.

Trip Report Thread 'Sydney, Australia-April 2024'

Jun 19, 2024

Hi, All

This is the third portion of a 50-day trip that included Fiji, an 18-night transpacific ocean cruise from Sydney to Honolulu, then diving on The Big Island, Hawaii. The first portion of this trip started on the island of Taveuni, Fiji, and the second portion was at Volivoli on Viti Levu. I wrote trip reports for both of those experiences. Trip Report - Paradise Taveuni-March/April 2024
Trip Report - Volivoli Resort, Fiji-April 2-11, 2024

I flew from Nadi (pronounced Nahn-dee) to Sydney, roughly 4 hours of flight time on Fiji Airways. I wanted to sample the diving in...

• Living4Experiences
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Australia

• 
• 

Trip Report Thread 'Perth, Australia-March 31-April 6, 2025'

Jun 12, 2025

About Me. My fifth location in a multi-country, two-month dive trip was Perth, Australia. I’m a solo traveler with 700+ dives, and I made my own arrangements for the Australia portion. The first three weeks were spent in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, followed by a 10-day stay in Puerto Galera, Philippines, and I wrote trip reports for those stays.
Trip Report - Raja Ampat-Cove Eco-February 2025
Trip Report - Raja Ampat Dive Lodge-March 2025
Trip Report - White Manta Liveaboard-March 10-17, 2025
Trip Report - Puerto Galera, Philippines-March 20-30, 2025...

• Living4Experiences
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Australia

• 

Trip Report Thread 'Exmouth, Australia April 6-12, 2025 (Ningaloo)'

Jun 14, 2025

About Me. My fifth location in a multi-country, two-month dive trip brings me to Exmouth, Australia, for diving in Ningaloo. I’m a solo traveler with 700+ dives, and I made my own arrangements for the diving and hotel. My first three weeks were spent in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, followed by a 10-day stay in Puerto Galera, Philippines, then 6 days in Perth, Australia. I wrote trip reports for those stays.

Trip Report - Raja Ampat-Cove Eco-February 2025
Trip Report - Raja Ampat Dive Lodge-March 2025
Trip Report - White Manta Liveaboard-March 10-17, 2025...

• Living4Experiences
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Australia

• 

 

[autrichon gris]

Looks like Rangiroa and Fakavara are tops for FP. Is the diving here as good as Maldives or better?



Appreciate any experience and advice

I've been to Maldives an French Polynesia. If you want sharks and manta rays by dozens, yes FP is a must, by far, Rangiroa and Fakarava are among the best dives of my life.