Best Island for Snorkeling in FP

smgreene03:14 UTC05 Oct 2009

Hello,
I was hoping for some advice on a trip I'm planning for the winter holidays. My husband and I are avid snorkelers (love that it's cheap, self-directed, private, and always surprising). We are set on a trip to French Polynesia, and I was wondering about what people considered to be the best island for snorkeling. We are pretty firm on 5 days in Moorea and 5 days in Tikehau, but have 5 more days to go somewhere else. My thoughts include: An additional 5 days in Moorea, Rangiroa, Raiatea or possibly Bora Bora (but I'm concerned about overcrowding). We'd be hoping to stay in either a guesthouse/pension with kitchenette, or an overwater bungalow.

Thanks!!!

smgreene04:33 UTC05 Oct 2009

PS -- I know that different people have different preferences for snorkeling. For me, the best snorkeling:
1) Is either accessible directly from a hotel, or by walking, biking, kayak, or rental car. I'd prefer to keep boat tours as an occasional treat rather than a daily necessity for snorkeling.
2) Has dense fish populations and a variety of species; large fish and turtles are a plus, while sharks are a minus. Coral formations are not as important to us as fish.
3) Has good water clarity and isn't crowded with people!
Thanks!

silvanocat17:35 UTC05 Oct 2009

The pass in southern Fakarava but I did see sharks including a grey one (that was so exicting, it wasn't the usual little reef shark but a grey one - seemed that something human like was swimming in the water and then I realized it was a 6ft - 2 meter shark). There are two pensions there, neither with a kitchenette.

The pass in Rangiora was impressive, I did that with a tour, I don't know if that is something you should do by yourselves, it was was kind of scary for poor swimmer me, I had my eyes closed at the time but everyone said that below there was a hammerhead devouring a smaller shark. (You're going to see sharks in FP though usually they are the small reef sharks.) I would not recommend a stop on Rangiora though unless you need to because of flight connections. It's not an attractive island.

Post also on the Tahiti Explorer forum:
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/cfrm

You may want to read up on Manihi, haven't been there but they say that snorkeling around the resort is like being in a fishbowl.

Best Island for Snorkeling in FP? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tahiti & French Polynesia
smgreene03:14 UTC05 Oct 2009	Hello, I was hoping for some advice on a trip I'm planning for the winter holidays. My husband and I are avid snorkelers (love that it's cheap, self-directed, private, and always surprising). We are set on a trip to French Polynesia, and I was wondering about what people considered to be the best island for snorkeling. We are pretty firm on 5 days in Moorea and 5 days in Tikehau, but have 5 more days to go somewhere else. My thoughts include: An additional 5 days in Moorea, Rangiroa, Raiatea or possibly Bora Bora (but I'm concerned about overcrowding). We'd be hoping to stay in either a guesthouse/pension with kitchenette, or an overwater bungalow. Thanks!!!
smgreene04:33 UTC05 Oct 2009	PS -- I know that different people have different preferences for snorkeling. For me, the best snorkeling: 1) Is either accessible directly from a hotel, or by walking, biking, kayak, or rental car. I'd prefer to keep boat tours as an occasional treat rather than a daily necessity for snorkeling. 2) Has dense fish populations and a variety of species; large fish and turtles are a plus, while sharks are a minus. Coral formations are not as important to us as fish. 3) Has good water clarity and isn't crowded with people! Thanks!	1
silvanocat17:35 UTC05 Oct 2009	The pass in southern Fakarava but I did see sharks including a grey one (that was so exicting, it wasn't the usual little reef shark but a grey one - seemed that something human like was swimming in the water and then I realized it was a 6ft - 2 meter shark). There are two pensions there, neither with a kitchenette. The pass in Rangiora was impressive, I did that with a tour, I don't know if that is something you should do by yourselves, it was was kind of scary for poor swimmer me, I had my eyes closed at the time but everyone said that below there was a hammerhead devouring a smaller shark. (You're going to see sharks in FP though usually they are the small reef sharks.) I would not recommend a stop on Rangiora though unless you need to because of flight connections. It's not an attractive island. Post also on the Tahiti Explorer forum: http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/cfrm You may want to read up on Manihi, haven't been there but they say that snorkeling around the resort is like being in a fishbowl.	2

Best Island for Snorkeling in FP?