French Polynesia in October

Hi there! We're actually planning a trip with some friends to FP in fall. Our idea is to do some island hopping for 3-4 weeks - Moorea, boat charter from Huahine to Bora Bora and Rangiroa or Fakarava or Tikehau.

I read some very interesting comments about Fakarava, but I wonder if anyone was diving at its south channel (Passe de Tamakohua sud) and can recommend to stay rather in the little pension in Tetamanu or would you rather stay in a hotel somewhere north?

What about Tikehau? Did not read much about it, but I guess diving shouldn't be much different, or? What of the given Tuamotus would you choose?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Id split my time north / south in Fakarava. The passes there are awesome but quite different. The South is probably the best in the whole of FP, the North coming pretty close. The pension there is pretty basic, but you are on teh doorstep of fantastic diving, and the locals there have pet napoleon wrasses that will swim up into the shallow to play with you.

At that time of year you might want to head to Rurutu for the Humpback Whales too, you might just catch them.

Mo'orea is great fun, get a car in tahiti and drive over so you can have more freedom. Bora Bora is nice but overpriced, Huahine and Ria'atea are really cool. Ria'atea has some cool stuff to do on land but poor diving. if you want cheap but fun lodging in Mo'orea pm and i'll send you the mail for a cool little surfers place.

Bora Bora is good for the sharkfeed dive and Manta Dive. You can see the lemon sharks at mo'orea too.

In Rangi take a day trip to pink sands beach in the south and blue lagoon in the north (beautiful beaches). Dive both passes if you can, might see some big Hammerheads there if you're lucky, but might be too early in the season. There's a vineyard on Rangi too, makes for an interesting day trip if the boys in the group are getting tired of the beach and feel like getting drunk!

On Tahiti proper there are some good walking trips and it's nice to spend a day travelling around the island at your own pace. Tahiti ITI is cold at night and there's a nice guest house near the top of the mini mountain.

Tikehau has some nice silvertip action, but i think you'd enjoy the diving elsewhere in the Tuamotus more than Tikehau, so it's probably not worth the flight expense or extra no fly time.

Wait until Fakarava or Rangi to buy pearls.

October can be pretty darn windy in the Tuamotu area.. rough seas. If you are going resort based in Faka or Rangi though you are ok. I wouldn't enjoy a small sailboat there though during that time

South Fakarava is an amazing place. You would do much better staying right on site in the little place there. The boats from north is quite a trek down there and they only go maybe once a week? I prefer the pass in the south to the north, more sharks and the drift under the jetties of the little resort is amazing. I think i counted 7 species of shark on one dive.

Tikehau is only ok, not up to the class of dives found in Faka, Rangi, Toau, or Apataki though. It does have a nice silver tip dive at the mouth of the channel and often dolphins.

I would suggest Faka and Rangi over Tikehau

South Fakarava is an amazing place. You would do much better staying right on site in the little place there. The boats from north is quite a trek down there and they only go maybe once a week? I prefer the pass in the south to the north, more sharks and the drift under the jetties of the little resort is amazing. I think i counted 7 species of shark on one dive. I would suggest Faka and Rangi over Tikehau

Thank you Mike, that really convinced me to stay at the south channel at Faka, which was my initial thought as well. I think we will now skip the idea of Tikehau opting rather for a fee more days on Rangi. Do you have some suggestion for that atoll?

Thank you very much in advance,

Ghostpipe

I can't seem to reply to your pm so i'll post here.

the website requested is:

http://www.marks-place-paradise.com/

it used to be called ha'apiti camping, i have his email address if you have no success with the contact page on the site. Try to get one of the bungalows, he built them himself.

I wouldn't count Tikehau totally out. Certainly the diving is not the same as Fakarava and Rangiroa - but you can't compare the topside, in my opinion. So, if only going for the pass diving - maybe skip Tikehau. But, the Tikehau Pearl is probably my favorite hotel experience we've ever been had - and the diving is no slouch - just not ripping pass diving.

Aloha

Bryce

Yes a split between North and South Faka is a very good option, 3 or 4 days of each.

Rangi: Top Dive is probably your best bet for an operator, they can also hook you up with a list of places to stay. Simon mentions a couple nice day trips.

Pension Havaiki at north Fakarava. Quiet, simple and beautifull. The only one with a beach in town. Just 4 bungalows with a pearl farm in. Walking distance to store and center of village. Not fancy or luxury.

I can't seem to reply to your pm so i'll post here. the website requested is: http://www.marks-place-paradise.com/ it used to be called ha'apiti camping, i have his email address if you have no success with the contact page on the site. Try to get one of the bungalows, he built them himself.

Oh no - I forgot to click on that checkbox...! Now it should work....

Thank you for that link. It looks quite nice. I will try to get one of the bungalows.