Tag Archives: Atolls

Views: The ‘Blue Paradises Of French Polynesia’ (4K)

Bora Bora, Fakarava, Ranguiroa, Tahiti, Tikehau, Moorea, Maupiti…

Our Odyssey through these islands and atolls is one of the most spectacular diving expeditions we have had the chance to do.
A crystal clear water (visbility can reach 45 meters), hundreds of different reef fish species, corals and pelagic, to sum up : an exceptional beauty both in terms of flora and fauna.

French Polynesia is known as the largest shark santuary in the world,
probably the only place in the world where you can see 6 species of sharks in a single dive : Grey reef sharks, Tiger sharks, Black-tip sharks, White-tip sharks, Nurse sharks and Lemon sharks. Yes! In a single dive.
The dives are mainly drifting because of the underwater topography of its passes, this is where the show begins, life is teeming: Hammerhead sharks, dolphins, school of barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, manta rays, marbled groupers, tuna, napoleons… We are not going to give you an exhaustive list, because there are around 800 species, I’ll let you imagine.
We dived into the main passes:Tiputa, Tumakohua, Garuae, Avatoru,… But the one that offered us the most beautiful spectacle is undoubtedly Tetamanu, the southern pass of Fakarava. Imagine yourself in front of a wall of 700 sharks (We were there the third week of June).
If you do not yet practice scuba diving, no worries, you can fully enjoy the beauties that French Polynesia has to offer by practicing snorkeling.
In the stunning lagoon of Moorea, you can snorkel with stingrays, black tip sharks and colorful fishes.

If French Polynesia benefits from a unique underwater environment, magnificent coral reefs and amazing lagoons, it is also an earthly paradise, not only for its majestic scenery or its dream beaches but above all for the kindness of the Polynesians (Tahitians).
So far we have mainly traveled to the Society Islands and the Tuamotus but we are planning to go in the Austral archipelago to swim with the
Humpback whales. Exploring Polynesia is the adventure of a lifetime, because it is the size of Europe.

Island Tours: ‘Tetiaroa’ – Marlon Brando’s Carbon-Free South Pacific Resort

Tetiꞌaroa is an atoll in the Windward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territorial collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Once the vacation spot for Tahitian royalty, the islets are under a 99-year lease contracted by Marlon Brando.

Marlon Brando

“My mind is always soothed when I imagine myself sitting on my South Sea island at night. If I have my way, Tetiaroa will remain forever a place that reminds Tahitians of what they are and what they were centuries ago.”

Marlon Brando first came to Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty and was immediately enchanted by the island’s rare beauty and the sense it gave him of being closer to paradise. Enthralled by the Polynesian way of life – and the leading lady Tarita, the love of his life – he resolved to find a way to own this piece of paradise and succeeded in his goal in 1967. It was in this natural wonderland that he settled down, and finally found a home.

Brando was passionate about preserving Tetiaroa’s natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural richness and was determined to find a way in which it could be a center for research and education, and a model of sustainability. He was convinced that this small atoll could bring good to the entire world.

In 1999 he asked Richard Bailey, a long-time resident of Tahiti who shared Brando’s passion for the environment and who had created some of the region’s finest resorts, to help him conceive a plan that would help Brando achieve his dream. Together, Brando and Bailey pursued a vision of creating the world’s first and foremost post-carbon resort—an island where innovative new technologies would enable a self-sustaining luxury environment for hotel guests, residents and scientific research. The Brando is the legacy of that shared vision.