Off-the-Beaten-Track Diving in French Polynesia: From Moorea to Fakarava
Rachel, Jamie and Jacqui are here to help give you the inside track.
After sun-soaked shores, marvellous marine life and serene seclusion? Look no further than French Polynesia. On this three-week holiday to the lesser-known islands of Moorea and Fakarava, you'll have the chance to connect with nature both above and below the surface, from sparkling waters teeming with sharks to rugged mountains and beautiful beaches.
After a whirlwind stop in Papeete, French Polynesia's capital, kick off your trip properly in Moorea, where you'll have the chance to dive with lemon sharks and turtles before setting off on a cruise to (hopefully) spot majestic whales and playful dolphins. When you've not diving, spend your days discovering the island's incredible natural landscapes on rainforest hikes and museum visits.
Then, it's onto Fakarava, where you'll dive both the North and South Passes. Here, sharks are the name of the game, along with pristine reefs, schools of tropical fish and occasionally strong currents - but don't worry, an expert dive team is on hand to ensure your only concern is what wildlife you'll spot.
Back on dry land, soak up the sunshine on the sand, set off on scenic bike rides and tuck into ultra-fresh seafood (washed down with an expertly shaken sundowner, of course). If that's not beachfront bliss, we don't know what is…
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Dive with lemon sharks and turtles in Moorea's Papetoai Lagoon
- Keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins and rays on a scenic cruise along Moorea's west coast
- Drift along Fakarava's North and South Passes, watching for grey, black tip and silver tip sharks
- Hike through rainforests, cycle along sandy paths and visit a traditional pearl farm
Why Book with Original Diving?
- 100% Carbon Off-setting
- UK Departure Assistance
- Fast Track UK Check-in
- Fast Track UK Security
- UK Airport Lounge Access
- Pre-booked Airline Seats
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Days 1 & 2: The adventure begins
Passports at the ready: your diving adventure begins today. Make your way to the airport, speed through security and settle into the lounge before boarding your flight to Papeete, French Polynesia's capital. With a quick stopover, the journey will take around 23 hours, touching down in Papeete early the next morning.
When you touch down, you'll be met and whisked to your new hotel, your home for the night. After a few hours spent settling in and enjoying a tasty breakfast, head out on a stroll to admire the city's incredible street art, painted by some of the world's best graffiti artists when Papeete hosted the Ono'u Festival between 2014 and 2018.
Come evening, stroll down to the city centre for supper and a sundowner - our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend some local spots.
Day 3: Make for Moorea
Wake up on French Polynesian time and enjoy a tasty breakfast (fresh fruit, anyone?) before being collected and privately transferred ten minutes to Papeete Port for the 45-minute ferry crossing to Moorea. Keep your eyes on the horizon as you approach the beautifully rugged island of Moorea, which boasts dramatic mountains and soft sand beaches.
Disembark and collect your trusty hire car for the 30-minute drive around the island's edge to your hotel. Check in for a five-night stay and spend the rest of the day settling in, whether you'd rather stroll along the beach, soak up the sun on the terrace or head down to the bar for a refreshing fruit juice (or cocktail, we're not judging).
Days 4 & 5: Let’s go diving
Over the next two days, immerse yourself in the breathtaking underwater world of Moorea. Complete with crystal-clear, coral-filled waters, this island is a diver's paradise, whether you're a total beginner or an accomplished pro.
New to diving? Papetoai Lagoon is a great place to start. The lagoon's gentle waters are home to a variety of underwater critters, from Nemo-style clownfish to curious lemon sharks, so mask up and dive down to swim alongside these incredible creatures.
For even more marine life, Tiki Point is one of our favourite shark-spotting sites, teeming with lemon, black-tip reef and grey sharks. A short distance away lies Aito, a haven for drift dive enthusiasts and turtle admirers.
If you're a seasoned diver, don't miss the exhilarating Corridor Drift, a high-speed drift dive through the lagoon channel, or the Rose Garden, a site featuring mesmerising coral formations and an abundance of curious sharks. On your marks, get set…
Day 6: Whale watching on the west coast
Today, swap fins for flip flops as you're transferred to the dock for an exciting whale and dolphin watching cruise. Hop aboard a boat and sail along the west coast, admiring the island's beauty and keeping your eyes peeled for rays, sharks, dolphins and (if you're lucky) humpback whales, who frequent these waters between June and November.
Don't worry - you'll still have a chance to venture below the surface today. In between whale-spotting, stop at beautiful bays and hidden coves perfect for snorkelling, before heading back onto the boat for the chance to refuel with fresh fruit and juice.
Later, return to the hotel for a lazy afternoon before enjoying a tasty meal overlooking the beach.
Day 7: A day to yourself
Enjoy a slow start this morning - we've left today free for you to spend as you please. If you're knackered after three days of marine excitement, simply set up camp on the sand and get stuck into your holiday read; if not, slap on some suncream and head out to explore.
Fancy a spot of culture? Visit the Te Fare Natura museum, which showcases the richness of Polynesian culture and biodiversity through interesting exhibitions and aquariums. If you'd rather experience this incredible landscape in person, strap on your walking boots and set off on the two-mile hike up Magic Mountain for fantastic views over Opunohu Bay.
However you choose to spend your day, end it with some delicious Polynesian food at your hotel. Cheers to that…
Day 8: Goodbye Moorea, hello Fakarava
Today, wave goodbye to Moorea's soft sands as you drive to Moorea airport, return your hire car and board a speedy 15-minute flight back to Papeete. After a speedy stopover, you'll then board the two-hour flight to Fakarava via Rangiroa.
When you touch down in North Fakarava, you'll be met and privately transferred to your lodge, your home for the next five nights. It'll be late afternoon by the time you arrive, so drop your bags and spend the rest of the evening settling into your new surroundings, ready for more excitement tomorrow.
Days 9 & 10: Dive the North Pass
Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Fakarava boasts over 1,000 species of fish, rays and sharks, as well as impeccably preserved reefs. Spend the next two days diving Fakarava's North Pass (otherwise known as Garuae Pass), renowned for its spectacular coral formations and abundant marine life.
Alongside knowledgeable diving experts, drift along the pass's currents to explore this underwater paradise, keeping your eyes peeled for bumbling Napoleon wrasse, sleek barracudas and schools of magnificent grey reef sharks. If you're lucky, you might also spot the occasional manta ray or dolphin gliding over the kaleidoscopic coral.
Days 11 & 12: Fakarava above the surface
The next two days are dedicated to discovering the island of Fakarava above the surface. Enjoy leisurely mornings soundtracked by swaying coconut palms and crashing waves, then spend your afternoons as you please, whether you'd rather relax on the sand or head out to explore.
How best to soak up the island's spectacular scenery? By bicycle, of course. Pedal along a six-mile circular trail, running alongside some of Fakarava's most beautiful beaches. Along the way, stop wherever takes you fancy, such as at marker PK9's small archaeological site or marker PK4's iconic pyramid-like Topaka lighthouse.
If you're keen to delve into Fakarava's culture, visit the Havaiki Lodge pearl farm, the oldest on the atoll. Here, learn all about pearl cultivation and processing, watch a pearl-grafting demonstration and tuck into a few tasty Tahitian oysters with a delicate squeeze of lemon (yes, please). You could also enter the farm's pearl lottery to be in with the chance of winning a gem of your own - now that's a souvenir worth taking home…
Day 13: Set off to South Fakarava
Today, grab your bags and meet your private driver for the car and boat transfer from North Fakarava to South Fakarava, which takes around an hour and 40 minutes. It's a seriously scenic journey, so relax on the sun-drenched decks and savour the views across the turquoise waters.
When you arrive, check into your new guesthouse, enjoy a tasty lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon embracing the laid-back atmosphere. If you're full of beans, grab one of the snorkels on offer and hop into the warm, gin-clear waters, or simply sit back and relax on the sandy shores.
Days 14 & 15: Shark diving in South Fakarava Pass
You've already experienced Fakarava's North Pass: now, prepare to dive its equally incredible South (or Tetamanu) Pass. Complete with hundreds of sharks milling over pristine coral reefs, this is a pelagic lover's paradise, so mask up and dive along the gentle currents with an expert guide.
Here, you won't just see sharks - you'll swim among, above and below them. Spend time admiring these graceful creatures and note the incredible variety, including lemon, grey, black tips and silver tips, as well as large schools of reef fish, moray eels and colourful coral gardens.
Days 16 & 17: Sun, sand and sea
The next two days are exclusively dedicated to R&R as you off-gas before your journey home.
How about a stroll along the shore and a sunbathing stint on a secluded coconut-lined beach? Or a massage at one of the local spas? However you choose to spend these final two days in paradise, be sure to snap a few final photos of your paradisical surroundings, sit on the sand to watch the sunset and indulge in ultra-fresh seafood and sundowners. And, relax…
Days 18 - 20: Homeward bound
It's sadly time for your French Polynesian adventure to come to an end. Soak in the final rays of the morning sun before you're picked up and transferred by car and boat back to Fakarava airport, where you'll catch a speedy one-hour-and-15-minute flight back to Papeete.
Then, it's time for your international flight home. With a connection in the US, the flight will take around a day, and you'll touch down in the UK two days later, ready to regale your diving buddies with tales of this island paradise.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£9,750pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£8,150pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£10,550pp
Rachel, Jamie and Jacqui are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.