Page 273 - French Polynesia
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upai – BORA BORA - Maximum depth: 130 feet. A visit to this he Crossing – MANIHI - There’s a 1500 meters-deep wall run-
T virgin island promises an unforgettable day. You will appreci- T ning from one side of the Tairapa Pass to the other, near the
ate the solitude, enjoying the crystal clear waters and beautiful “Drop-off” site. The sight of the wall is really impressive, plus there
coral gardens to breathtaking undersea walls. are lots of napoleon wrasses. In the mating season, the grouper
gathering takes place.
T upitipiti – BORA BORA - Maximum depth: 130 feet. At the very
southern point of the barrier reef, a breathtaking landscape T he Drop-off – MANIHI - The Drop Off, another popular site, is a
and an exceptional visibility. 20 meters deep, many coral boulders wall descending from 10 to 4,500 feet deep.In this spot takes
have shaped into a network of grotto and canyon where many place the assembly of a big grouper migration that comprises
species are hiding. You will then reach a vertiginous wall covered millions of fish, making quite an extraordinary sight. This event is
with lovely flora. Here there is no slope, just an abrupt drop-off supposed to be one of the most spectacular in the whole French
following a wall of pink, purple and white coral. From August and Polynesia . It’s located about 25 meters off the reef, near the
November is the Whale migration season. The humpback whales Tairapa Pass and off the Pauea Village . Here you’ll find impressive
like to swim in these quiet waters and can be easily approached. schools of snapper, gray sharks, Napoleon wrasse, tuna and barra-
cudas. Drift dive from the ocean towards the lagoon, ending up in
C lark Bank – CLARK ISAND - Clark Bank is Outstanding. The aver- the “Circus” site. There will be a boat following the divers from the
age depth is 1500 m. To reach Clark Bank you have to do it by surface, so they can enjoy this “underwater highway”, like flying
boat. The top of Clark Bank is 9 m deep; and the walls goes up to astronauts in a flow of life stream. Pass-like environment, combin-
1500 m deep. This is a fantastic open sea shoal. ing species from the ocean and the lagoon.
L oson Bank - Loson Bank is an open sea shoal. The top is approx- A ito – MOOREA - Maximum depth: 27meters/80 feet. Close to
imately 17 m deep and it goes deeper than 1000 m. Tiki point, you will find similar marine life except for an oc-
casional turtles. Expect many Emperor Angel fish. The reef break
M atateteiko Point - HUKU HIVA - Large plateau with walls and is a bit deeper and may have some current. Drifting dive along the
cracks. Shoals of tunas, barracudas and jacks, and sometime Aito drop-off, watching barracudas, turtles, grey and lemon sharks.
black-tip sharks. If you are lucky: Hammerhead sharks and mantas.
