Diving and island suggestions, French Polynesia, Cook Islands + ?

Hi

I'm planning on travelling to the South Pacific in September or October this year for approx 3 weeks. I'm a diver and planning on going to Rangiroa (into big fish), but also want to explore a few other islands while I'm there. I'm keen to go remote and small, emphasis on lovely beaches rather than anything else - avoiding touristy places wherever possible. Would anyone have any suggestions of where else to go in French Polynesia, doesn't have to be for diving, and the Cook Islands or....?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

If your budget can take it you can catch the Papeete-Raro flight then go to Mauke, Mangia or Mitiaro. Out of Raro you'll pay around $450-520NZD for a return ticket to any of them. I think the PPT-RAR flight is around $800NZD return.

These islands are unique in that they have a pleasant mix of basic creature comforts. Like communications to the outside world if you need it, reasonably-priced clean lodging an good food.

They have populations ranging from 150 to 500 people. Many times you will be the only tourist on the entire island. Almost without exception the locals are genuinely happy to have you on their island and are very friendly people.

The scenery is typical typical of most SP destinations. The main difference being the lack of fellow tourists and the the scarcity of the typical contrived "real Polynesian experiences" that you see in places most tourists frequent. All of the islands have numerous isolated beaches that you can enjoy undisturbed save for the occasional local that may walk by on the reef looking for shellfish.

If you want to go fishing it's usually a case of buying the petrol for a local fisherman. Then you can expect to go out at dawn for several hours in a 14-16ft skiff with a 15hp outboard. Most of the locals fish with flying fish and handlines but many have a rod with a 4/0 filled with 30lb test for times when the yellowfin tuna get finicky. And... they will share the day's catch with you. They have some big wahoo around in October. It's not unusual to have them take half of a medium-sized tuna and they often take the tails off of them.

None of the islands I've mentioned above have lagoons. They have shallow tidal areas ranging from 60-150 meters between the beaches and the fringing reef. For free-diving you can probably get a local spearfisherman to tag along with on a trip outside the reef. Sometimes you can get a local to take you out in a boat outside the reef. You can also get outside the reef on all of the islands by using the harbor as an entry point. Most of the local spearfishermen have places around the island that provide access outside the reef.

I've been there six times and have spent time on all of the islands in the Southern Group. It's a refreshing place to sit back and enjoy yourself and learn about the local culture and the island. And... you don't have to listen to somebody from California talk about how many BMWs they have or how crappy the service is compared to the last place they visited.

One more thing... there are some young men on Mitiaro that like to shoot big Black Trevally. You can probably arrange a trip with them. They normally go out a break in the reef and swim for several miles along the reef before coming back in.

But they would probably welcome someone to pay for a skiff to take you and them out for a trip. Gas would be about $60NZD.