My Holiday
May 2015 I've visited the islands of French Polynesia. I flew first to London and after a short transition to Los Angeles where I've stayed for one night. The next day I flew to Papeete, Tahiti where I've arrived in the evening. After one night sleep at Papeete I flew in 15 minutes to the island Moorea where I've stayed at the Intercontinental Moorea Resort for 9 days. The next island was Bora Bora where I've stayed for 10 days at the Le Maitai hotel. My last island was Rangiroa for a next stay for 9 days. Finally I've returned to Tahiti island from where the journey home started with the first stop at Los Angels airport.
Moorea is well known for their Shark dives with the lemon sharks. At Bora Bora Manta encounters are common and Rangiroa is famous for their pelagic encounters while drifting with the current.
Location
French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,245 miles) in the South Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia lies in the region
Polynesia. French Polynesia lies roughly 8700 km west of Chili, 6800 km east of Cairns, Queensland and 4100 km south of the Hawaii'n islands.
Geography
French Polynesia make up a total land area of 3,521 square kilometres (1,359 sq mi), scattered over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of ocean. There are 118 islands in French Polynesia. t is made up of 5 groups of islands. The largest and most populated island is Tahiti, in the Society Islands.
The island groups are:
Marquesas Islands,
Society Islands, including Moorea and Bora Bora,
Tuamotu Archipelago including Rangiro,
Gambier Islands sometimes considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago,
Austral Islands and
Bass Islands often considered part of the Austral Islands
Language
French is the only official language of French Polynesia. An organic law of 12 April 1996 states that "French is the official language, Tahitian and other Polynesian languages can be used."
Climate
The climate in French Polynesia enjoy a balmy tropical climate. Tropical showers can pass overhead at any time of the year. Humidity averages between 77% and 80% throughout the year. The most pleasant time of year is the May-through-October austral winter, or dry season, when midday maximum temperatures average a delightful 82°F (28°C), with early morning lows of 68°F (20°C) often making a blanket necessary.
Diving conditions
The diving conditions from French Polynesia The water is warm (26°C = 79°F to 29°C = 84°F) and thanks to the amazing visibility (from 30m to 50m, ie 70ft up to 150ft), diving is beautiful everyday of the year, from January to December. Moorea island is particularly renowned for its clear warm waters, rich, abundant tropical marine life, including turtles, eagle rays and an impressive concentration of sharks species.
It is difficult to describe the beauty and enchantment that emerges from Bora Bora! Combine two towering volcanic peaks, one brilliant turquoise lagoon, atolls fringed with palms, story book beaches, and you have the formula for the most stunning island in the South Pacific. Experience an unforgettable Manta Ray "ballet" in the lagoon, dance with a wide variety of sharks, turtles & schools of barracudas outside the unique pass.
Life is simple and tranquil on Rangiroa. The atoll is the second largest in the South pacific with 120 miles of white sand beaches encircling a 400-square-mile lagoon that offers unique drift diving. Rangiroa & its famous large a passes of Avatoru & Tiputa offers exceptional drift diving with amazing successive big encounters such as manta & eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, reef sharks, turtles & dolphins, jackfish & various ocean fish schools.
Time difference
-10 hrs GMT
