The largest of the Polynesian archipelagos includes 76 islands and atolls spread over nearly 8,000 square miles.
Once remote and isolated, the archipelago now has hundreds of pearl farms and scuba diving sites that
attract visitors from all over the world.
Rangiroa is the largest atoll in French Polynesia, and one of the four largest in the world. Measuring 42 miles long and 16 miles wide, the island of Tahiti could fit inside its lagoon. The atoll, a long ribbon if islets, looks like a white shell lei floating in the sea.
Drift diving between the ocean and the deep lagoon is a favorite sport on this island and divers come from around the world for the experience.
There are two villages on the island, Tiputa and Avatoru, each with a population of about 700, situated near a main entry point of the reef. A road surfaced with crushed coral links the two villages and their neighborhoods.
This atoll was the site of the first pearl farm that paved the way for the other Tuamotu islands. In addition to a visit of the pearl farms, visitors can explore the ancient marae sites which are at the north and south ends of the atoll.
Manihi and its waters are known to divers for their amazing density of fish and corals. The usual cavally and napoleons swim past perch, cod, loach and meru while the majestic manta rays dodge past the eagle rays.
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