Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands

Bora Bora is one of over 100 islands in the South Pacific. The people are a mix of Maori, Chinese and European, and have a unique, welcoming culture. One can experience turquoise blue waters, white sand beaches, as well as a heathly mix of culture and the arts. Excellent hiking, scuba diving, fishing, boating and more can also be easily found.

Fakarava’s immense lagoon has several black pearl farms, idyllic white sand beaches and is peppered with small islands, homes to many breeds of nesting birds oblivious to visitors..The passes provide endless and exciting discoveries for snorkelers and scuba divers in dream-like purple water where 150 foot visibility is the norm.

Adventure and discovery are mixed with breathtaking scenery, romance, and the warm, sensual trade winds in the coconut palms. If you need to de-stress, this is the place. Snorkeling there is the best of anywhere, and Scuba diving in this tropical aquarium couldn’t be easier: when the tide is even, simply jump off the restaurant deck into this purple dream, sit yourself at the bottom ( 80″ ) of the pass, and watch the crowd go by, just like in a Paris cafe. Except you are in 80 degree water with 180″ visibility. And the crowd is made-up of tropical fish who come to check you out, including many huge napoleon wrasses, white-tip, black-tip and (harmless) grey sharks and sometimes manta rays.

Another cool dive – or snorkling – excursion is to Sane’s famous black pearl farm where you can see the large oysters suspended in mid-lagoon, and if it is the right time of year, even observe the delicate procedure of graft implenting in the live oysters. For a small fee, Sane may even let you dive for your own pearl, and who knows, you may hit the jackpot!

Moorea’s white sandy beach, clearwater lagoons, majestic palm trees and volcanic peaks make this a truely peaceful island paradise. Moorea is dedicated to tourism without all of the hustle-bustle typical of its neighboring islands. Go to Velvedere Lookout, or view the facsinating marae ruins and stone archery platforms in the Upunohu Valley, both easily accesible by moped or car.

Tahiti, (te-hê´tê) island (1988 pop. 115,820), 402 sq mi (1,041 sq km), S Pacific, in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. The capital is Papeete. It relies on tourism and produces vanilla, fruits, and copra. Settled by Polynesians (14th cent.), it was visited in the 18th century by Capt. James Cook and Lt. William Bligh. It became French in 1843. Gauguin painted his best-known works there.