02Apr: Papeete

03-06 Apr: Cruising Tumatou Archepelago

06-07 Apr: Pitcairn Island

08 Apr: Eclipse Intercept

11 Apr: Hiva Oa, Marquesas

12 Apr: Nuku Hiva, Marquesas

14 Apr: Fakarava

15 Apr: Moorea

16 Apr: Papeete

Fakarava: Island of Dreams

Fakarava, is an untouched world where nesting birds and marine life live in harmony with the land and water.

The rich ecosystem is home to rare birds, plants, and crustaceans while the dive sites are virtually undiscovered. Life along the quiet shores is equally unique with quaint villages, old coral churches, and welcoming people.

Amongst the discoveries you may make: visit to a pearl farm, visit to the ancient village of Tetamanu where there is one of the first Catholic churches constructed from coral, dating from 1874, and, at 60 km by sea from the village of Rotoava, Hirifa, an extraordinary place where a magic light sets off reflections of hundreds of palm trees in the mirror of its emerald lagoon and whose immense virgin beach stretching several kilometers can leave no visitor unmoved.

Its leading attraction is scuba diving in almost virgin sites where a rich lagoon and pelagic fauna, including loachs, groupers, barracuda, rays and the unforgettable hammerhead and tiger sharks, is concentrated. The southern pass of Tumakohua has many sharks and also a large coral colony in the form of a rose, the famous "coral roses".

Even though Fakarava is the newest destination to welcome resort visitors among Tahiti & Her Islands, it was one the first population centers and ancient capital of the region. The lagoon, the second largest after Rangiroa, is rich with life below and above the surface and a prime example of nature at its finest. So pure is the environment here that Fakarava is being considered for classification as a UNESCO nature reserve for the preservation of rare species.

Life among the 400 residents, is centralized around the quaint villages of Rotoava and the Tetamanu.

Its lagoon is punctuated by innumerable motu, the majority of which remain unexplored with a biosphere reserve classified by UNESCO: its special features being columns of water in the lagoon and ocean and the importance and diversity of its fauna and flora, including the kingfisher, the Tuamotu palm tree and its lagoon crustaceans such as squills and mantis-shrimp. One must also not forget the inventory of submerged and emerged plates made in close collaboration with the CRIOBE, IRD and UPF organizations.

The northern pass of Ngarue is the richest in marine fauna, the seven currents of the legend of Fakarava making dives here amidst the most abundant fish life in all of Polynesia. The dive center will take you for a wonderful drift-dive on a Zodiac to see manta rays, sharks, barracuda, loachs, groupers, turtles, dolphins, surgeon fish in great profusion.