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Tuamotu
is an archipelago comprising 78 low islands or coral atolls scattered over
several hundred miles of the eastern Pacific. Life on these remote atolls
is simple and quiet. Interior lagoons are a haven for black pearl farms,
fish parks, snorkelling and scuba diving. Rangiroa
Rangiroa, with
its 42 mile long by 16 mile wide turquoise lagoon, is the largest atoll in
the Tuamotu Archipelago and the second largest in the world. Only an hour's flight from Tahiti, Rangiroa
offers sunshine, white coral beaches and an immense playground for water
sports and activities.
Lagoon excursions include amazing
snorkeling through the pass amongst thousands of colorful fish of all
shapes and sizes together with 3 or 4 varieties of sharks. They elegantly
- and harmlessly - cruise by, but close enough to make the heart beat just
a little faster. A must do! Also available is line or
drag fishing as well as motor boat outings to visit Tiputa village,
various remote motu islets, the bird sanctuary on Motu Paio and thefamous
"Blue Lagoon" of Toeo'o. Picnics are sometimes included. All of
the hotels and pensions can arrange these excursions. Rangiroa lagoon and the pass are also world
famous for unsurpassed scuba diving which is available with professional
diving centers.
Manihi
Manihi is an atoll 312 miles northeast
of Tahiti in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Its clear lagoon, which is 3 1/2
miles wide by l9 miles long, has a deep navigable pass through the reef.
It is here, in the purest, blue-green waters surrounding this remote atoll,
that that South Seas "gem," the rare black pearl, was first
farmed. Manihi is still the
center of
black pearl farming, and a visit to one of many black pearl
farms sprinkled arround the lagoon is a must.
Mast of the population of 400 live in Turipaoa
village alongside the pass. Activities are naturally centered around the
lagoon, and no matter where you stay, your hosts will arrange boat trips
to show you around the lagoon, visiting the fish parks and pearl farms,
with picnics on a motus and line or spear fishing. Fakarava
An
hour and a half flight from Papeete ( 3 times a week, Mon,/Fr. via Air
Tahiti, Wed. via Air Oceania ), Rectangular-shaped Fakarava is the second
largest atoll in the Tuamotu, 37 miles long by 15 miles wide. It has a
very large pass at the north end and a smaller one at the south end.
Rotoava village has a small airport and is
located 6 miles from the Ngarue pass (one-kilometer wide). It is a
charming village, home to most of the atoll's 248 inhabitants. The only
other - sort of - settlement (11 people ) is on Tetamanu motu (islet)
located at the opposite end of the lagoon next to the smaller but prettier
pass.
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.
For more regional information
on the Tuamotu Islands, go to:
Hotels & Resorts on
the Tuamotu Islands
For
more general information
on French Polynesia, go to: |
