#17941 - 05/15/04 12:44 AM
Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
mlbcruiser
Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 78
Loc: St. Louis, MO
|
Thinking about going on a motu picnic/snorkel trip w/Marc's in Huahine. Does anyone know where the snorkeling on this trip is usually done and how good it is? I've seen on the boards that SOME motu picnics offer snorkeling and shark feeding as well. Does anyone know which ones these are?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#17942 - 05/16/04 10:52 PM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
watercolors
Member
Registered: 03/04/04
Posts: 40
|
mlbcruiser
We have not been there yet, going in July. But we have read in so many reviews and trip reports that Marc's tour in Huahine is by far, the best of the motu/snorkel tours on any of the islands. When are you going? If we go before you I will let you know how it was, as we have reserved with him.
We've also read many reports of Bruno's Tahaa tour in Raitea, but I can't seem to get a reply from anyone on the boards as to whether there is a less expensive alternate tour that anyone enjoyed. We want to snorkel, really don't care about visiting another pearl farm on his tour. Let me know if you hear anything. Let me know when you're going.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17943 - 05/17/04 12:50 AM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
mlbcruiser
Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 78
Loc: St. Louis, MO
|
We'll be going the first wk. in Sept. 2 nts. precruise on Moorea and then a l0 day cruise on the Tahitian Princess. I think Bruno's is out as my DH will dive that day. So I have emailed Marc and made a reservation w/him, and the other 4 friends going w/us have decided to book that tour, too. Thanks for the info., and if you beat me there, post your review!
Thanks!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17944 - 05/17/04 07:17 AM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
ld
Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 67
Loc: UK
|
We went Shark feeding with Marc's outfit on Huahine and the snorkelling afterwards was by far the best we did over four islands. If they use the same spot on all the trips its out near the reef and absolutely excellent. Shark feeding their also beat the trip on Bora Bora hands down.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17945 - 05/17/04 10:43 AM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
Thomas Marshall
Moderator
Registered: 02/10/04
Posts: 1152
Loc: Newport Beach, Ca. USA
|
watercolors,
I was planning on winging it as far as activities go on Taha'a (we will be their August 7th - 10th). Once we arrive I was planning on making the arrangements, it's the only Island on our next vacation that I haven't booked activities in advance for.
I'm very interested in Snorkeling options. It sounds like you will be back before we leave for our trip. If you find something worthwhile, I would really appreciate it if you could post the info in this thread.
Thanks in advance
_________________________
Thomas
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17946 - 05/17/04 09:26 PM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
watercolors
Member
Registered: 03/04/04
Posts: 40
|
mlbcruiser and Thomas Marshall- I will be sure to let you know all about the tours and the best spots we encounter. We will be going in July.
ld-
We have Marc's booked for Huahine, also Bruno's in Raitea/Tahaa, Sharkboy in Bora Bora. These tours are really adding to our expenses. We plan to do alot of snorkeling and exploring on our own, do we really need to take Bruno's tour to see great snorkeling and Tahaa? If Marc's is the best (as I've heard over and over, could we skip Sharkboy and see alot of sealife on our own in Bora Bora near the coral gardens?
Any comments from anyone are appreciated!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17947 - 05/17/04 10:33 PM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
mlbcruiser
Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 78
Loc: St. Louis, MO
|
Watercolors, I don't mean to do anyone any disservice, but today someone forwarded a thread to me from another cruise on the TP. They did the tours mentioned and were NOT impressed w/Sharkboy. Said the shark feeding was just a repeat of what they'd done elsewhere. I don't know how to "copy" from one post to the next and may have deleted it already, but if I find it I might be able to tell you where to look. Yes, the excursions are sure going to make this trip a lot pricier than we anticipated, too. So we will certainly do some things on our own. Have Marc's booked and trying for Capt. Heirfara. Decided to forgo Bruno's, but will do a 4x4 SOMEPLACE. Have a nice vacation!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17948 - 05/18/04 01:48 AM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
ld
Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 67
Loc: UK
|
I can't comment on Tahaa as I've not been there. I really enjoyed the trip on Bora Bora, but not for the sharkfeeding more for the tour of the lagoon, swimming in the turquiose waters etc etc. I saw quite a few people on kayaks in Bora Bora and if you are staying at the Sofitel Motu you'll have great access to the coral gardens. You can certainly see a lot of life at the coral gardens and the snorkelling off Hotel Bora Bora is also excellent, but the current can be a little strong. You don't have to be staying there though as you can access it from Matira beach. The sharks on Huahine were much bigger and more of them and the snorkelling afterwards was amazing because you are so far out and near the coral reef that the fish numbers are staggering. Its a bit difficult to say whether you should skip a tour or not. As they are different experiences for different people. I dive and so might have a different perspective, the reason I liked marcs so much was it was as close to the experience of diving that I've come across whilst snorkelling.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17949 - 05/18/04 12:43 PM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
Thomas Marshall
Moderator
Registered: 02/10/04
Posts: 1152
Loc: Newport Beach, Ca. USA
|
watercolors,
I've done the snorkeling tours on Bora Bora and Moorea, if you want to cut one of the tours I would suggest cutting the Bora Bora one. The reason why is the snorkeling off Hotel Bora Bora was every bit as good as the Snorkel trip I took on Moorea and from what I've read the Sofitel Motu has top quality snorkeling as well.
FYI - both of these hotels have the highest rating for snorkeling on BB, see this sites travel guide for the hotel comparison chart.
In fact, I'm still looking for something that will top the HBB lagoon, this is one of the reasons we always return to BB on every trip, as well as visit new Islands - always looking for something better (this year it will be Taha'a and Rangiroa).
Good luck and one thing is for sure, you're in for some of the best snorkeling on the planet know matter which decision you make.
_________________________
Thomas
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#17950 - 05/18/04 09:13 PM
Re: Motu Picnic - Marc's or one on Moorea?
|
watercolors
Member
Registered: 03/04/04
Posts: 40
|
ld and Thomas Marshall-
Thanks for the information! I think we will be very happy with Marc's tour, and can do the exploring on our own in Bora Bora and Moorea. Everyone has been so helpful answering my questions. It sounds like the snorkeling is great in the coral gardens, and kayaking by ourselves in the lagoons would be a blast.
Thanks again!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BarbiJKM, hamara, DenverJoe, Poehere
|
6901 Members
15 Forums
10250 Topics
91339 Posts
Max Online: 118 @ 04/08/12 01:59 PM
|
|
0 registered
and 8 anonymous users online.
|
|
|
