It is fascinating to think who may have been the first sailors to set foot on the fabled islands of French Polynesia. Wouldn’t that have been breathtaking - to have been the first human? Captain James Cook was leaving here once and it is reported his lieutenant said, “They are as pleasant and happy a spot as the world contains.”
Is there a magic spell?
For couples planning an unforgettable honeymoon, or if you’re a diver who must add this part of the world to your log book, it may be hard to know just where to start. To get your mind around French Polynesia, note that the total landmass of all the islands is 1,359 square miles - and yet, its territory covers over a million square miles. That’s roughly the size of Western Europe.
When landing in Tahiti, the approach takes you over two famous wreck dives - just off the strip at Faa’a International Airport in Papeete. If you’re planning to make Bora Bora your home for a week, you’ll find mantas in the famous lagoon - and sharks everywhere else.
Just outside the reef passes of Rangiroa, Fakarava and Manihi - in the Tuamotus - you’ll find swarms of sharks, circling like a mad nest of bees. Then, south of there, close to Rurutu in the Australs, from September to January, plan on viewing dozens of humpbacks. By the way, to the north, near the Marquesas, the deep waters teem with pilot whales, beaked whales and enormous manta rays.
Tahitian culture has long been admired. The people have a sweet spirit and great know-how. The perfect touch of French, this mixture of peoples have a long history of living as one with the elements. For example, a roadside eatery may look like a thatched hut from the outside, but know that inside they’re serving scrumptious fresh tuna with ginger and a side of escargot.
And what better to represent the people of French Polynesia than the black pearl? More that 98% of all the world’s black pearls are cultured here. You’ll see small mom and pop operations to huge pearl farms dotting the bays. Keeping the shells happy is an art, but all in a days work for farmers in the wonderful land of colors.
