#67661 - 10/29/07 01:26 AM
Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
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Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Hi, dear all:
I'm planning my 3rd trip to FP in July 2008. This time beside 1 night at Papeete and 5 nights at Bora Bora, we will stay 8 nights at Tuamotu. We are planning to stay 5 nights at Fakavara and 3 at Tikehau since we already went to Rangiroa and Manihi in our last trip (I posted a lot of pics in the trip report). I'm a PADI certified openwater diver and my wife is only a snorkeler. Here are my questions and concerns and I hope some of you can give me a hand:
1) We wanted to stay at Raimiti since we have heard so much nice comments, but it seems arranging diving with diver operater from outside is a kind of trouble, so I guess we will stick with Tatemanu village or Motu Aito Paradise. Which one is better for snorkeling right in front of the premises? just in case if I go for diving, then my wife can also enjoy snorkeling by her own. She and I are both typical fish freak!!! We won't get out of water till our fingertips wrinkle like soaked toilet paper or our back burns like roasted duck. lol
2) After diving at the south pass of FAV, will I still find north pass facinating? Should I stay couple of nights at north pass too?
3) After staying at Fakavara, will I still find Tikehau interesting? If not, then should we skip Tikehau and stay 4 nights at north pass and 4 nights at south pass of Fakavara?
It's a shame that Raimiti doesn't have its own dive center otherwise it will be a no-brainer to choose Raimiti instead. Also I've heard occaionally humpback whale swim around Raimiti, so I am going to miss a great chance to see humpback whale!
Once again, thank you in advance for any suggestions and input!
Edited by Peter 2 (10/29/07 01:34 AM)
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
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#67666 - 10/29/07 07:27 AM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: Peter 2]
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auwe
Member
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 43
Loc: netherlands
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We just returned from FP. We decided to stay 3 nights at Havaiki (excellent place)and 4 nights Raimiti (just paradise). Te Ava Nui told us several times by mail that they could not pick us up at Raimiti for diving the south pass. We did 4 dives with them at the North Pass and finaly they also came to pick us up at Raimiti for diving the south pass (I think it is only 15 min more to pick us up because they pass Raimiti on the way to Tetamanu). They only go to south about once a week (they have to get enough divers and the weather needs to be ok)! After our dives at the south pass Raimaru (from Raimiti) came to pick us up at Tetamanu so we did not have to return with the dive boat.
Both passes are amazing, but I would do the north pass before the south (nothing beats seeing over 300 sharks at the south pass). Snorkling the south pass can be fantastic, but when we went diving the snorkling was not that good because the current was outgoing: dangerous because you drift away from the lagoon.
Forget about the humpback whales: they saw 2 whales at the end of september this year (we saw the footage and it is amazing). But before last september they saw 1 whale in september 2006, 1 whale in 2005, 2004 no whales and 2003 also 1. So it is not very common! Rurutu is the place to see whales: the only regret I have from my trip to FP is that I did not go to Rurutu. We have spoken with a lot of people who went to Rurutu and they all saw the whales!! We have seen some incredible foto's.
If you are going to choose between Motu Aito or Tetamanu village I would choose Motu Aito. The bungalows at Tetamanu do not look very attractive (I only saw them from the outside)
I will be posting a complete trip review later (incl foto's).
We did not go to Tikehau
Good luck
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#67669 - 10/29/07 07:55 AM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: auwe]
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Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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wow.... auwe, thank you so much for the detail information. Just curious to know where you saw 2 whales at the end of september this year. Was it in Fakavara or somewhere else? We went to Moorea last year in August to join Dr. Poole for whale watching, but we only saw the tail of a whale from a far distance. When we were about to get ready to junp into water, the whale disappeared.
We always wanted to go to Rurutu, but it seems it is pretty far away and the air ticket is so expensive, also time and timing is a problem. We might think about going to Rurutu during our 4th FP trip in July or August 2009 since we don't think we will have enough time for Rurutu in July 2008. You see we are as addicted as you, lol
If south pass is that amazing as what you described, then I think I will skip north pass and stay longer at south pass. Wasn't north pass good for diving also? How about snorkeling at north pass and snorkeling near Havaiki? Was snorkeling near Raimiti also good?
Thank you again for the post!
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
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#67691 - 10/30/07 12:26 PM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: Peter 2]
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maimiti
Member
Registered: 04/29/07
Posts: 63
Loc: CA
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I'll add my two cents too... I didn't feel there was a general difference between Motu Aito and Raimiti. In my opinion they are equal in what they offer (but different). Motu Aito's bungalows are bigger with more options to move around, read, etc. You can also wade through the water there to the neighboring motus. At both places you are dependent on your hosts to take you anywhere else off their motu. Both motus are beautiful in different ways. Motu Aito took us to the most amazing pink sand motu on the other side of Tetamanu. Raimiti shyed away from this. Having been there once, it was the reason we returned to Fakarava so that was disappointing for me. Tetmanu V will take you there too. Tetamanu's bungalows are older and more basic but the setting really is lovely and it's nice to have the option to jump into the water at any point if you are a snorkel enthusiast. Snorkeling there was VERY good-as people have said. Bungalows may be overpriced, but then again location is excellent and their overwater restaurant has always been a dream of mine. Service has been questionable at times. Can't speak to the North Pass as I've never stayed. Sounds like it is better for the bigger species of fish. Nice that if you go with Te Ava Nui you can do both and so can your wife. I'm sure you will both enjoy the south pass. I felt the snorkeling around Motu Aito and Raimiti were comparable. The reef behind Raimiti is lovely, didn't get a chance to explore behind Motu Aito. I'd guess they are the same, but...
Whales come in the South Pass and can be heard(?) outside the reef when they breech. If there are whales they should pass by all 3 pensions. However, if you want to be "guaranteed" a chance, Rurutu would be the place. Even at that give yourself 4-5 excursions ($100/per person) minimum as you don't always locate them everyday. I imagine later in the season (October-November) there is the best chance. We saw about 8 total at the beginning of the season at the end of August. It was a little early, but we were lucky as those were our only travel dates. Without the whales, the island is very quiet so don't expect much other than driving at a slow speed and visiting for those 4-5 days when you are whale watching. We had a man staying at our guesthouse who flew exclusively to Rurutu from Tokyo, just to experience the whales for 3 days...Aue. He didn't speak a word of english or french, what a 72 hour surreal experience.
Have fun planning. No bad options... PS You can read some good reports on Rurutu by Yosemitegirl and myself under Any Topic.
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#67692 - 10/30/07 12:30 PM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: maimiti]
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maimiti
Member
Registered: 04/29/07
Posts: 63
Loc: CA
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Forgot to say that it is my understanding that Motu Aito has a 3 night minimum. This may influence your plans in terms of coordinating what you want to do. Tila's cooking is excellent-very local and you can fish for fresh tuna with Manihi at sunrise just in time for sashimi for breakfast. He also has a well stocked fish park which you can jump into and feel like you are swimming in the most amazing aquarium.
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#67693 - 10/30/07 01:40 PM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: maimiti]
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Russell10
Junior Member
Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 11
Loc: Dallas, TX
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Auwe: I understand you to say that Te Ava Nui picked you up at Raimiti for diving. I'm going to be at Raimiti at the end of next month and would like to dive the South Pass. I've written Te Ava Nui and they say they won't pick us up. How do you suggest that I convince them otherwise, as you did? And how would I contact them once there? I suppose it helped having dove with them 4 times before at Havaiki.
Edited by Russell10 (10/30/07 01:41 PM)
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#67708 - 10/30/07 10:17 PM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: Russell10]
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Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Hi, Maimiti. I really appreciate your input. Thank you so much!
Since we are both very much into marine life, the size of bungalow is not really important for us. I think we will stick with Tetamanu Village. I already read all the reports on Rurutu in this website and am very much tempted to go there in July 2008, but time and timing is the problem, we will definitely plan to go there in 2009. I have few more questions, hope you don't mind adding another two cents for me, lol.
Are Tetamanu and Motu Aito next to each other? Is it a walking or swimming distance? Is Tetamanu very close to the main town?
What is the difference between Tetamanu Village and Sauvage?
It seems Tetamanu V. has its own diving center "Tetamanu Diving Center". Motu Aito Paradise uses Te Ava Nui Diving Center, but Te Ava Nui is is located at north, so if I stay at Motu Aito, then I am afraid they don't come down to south that often for picking up guess at Motu Aito for diving. Am I correct?
Thanks for any input again.
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
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#67716 - 10/31/07 02:20 AM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: Peter 2]
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auwe
Member
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 43
Loc: netherlands
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Russell10: Correct:Te Ava Nui picked us up at Raimiti, although they told me in their emails that they could not do this!! I think they prefer people to book Te motu Aito. But if they go diving in the south it is very easy for them to pick people up at Raimiti (and it is extra money for them!)
On our first dive with them in the north pass I immidiatly asked Jean Christoph why they do not pick us up at Raimiti when they go south and he replied that they would arrange this for us! And 5 days later they came pick us up and we paid our dives cash on the boat!
Peter2: we did not see whales in the lagoon at Fakarava but other tourists saw them at Raimiti (but this is very VERY rare!!)
While we were in Moorea the whales were also there (but NO tour operator would take us out because of bad weather for 3 days). We saw the whales when we were on the plane from Moorea to Papeete.
Tetamanu diving center does not have a divemaster all the time. They promised a couple we met at Raimiti that the divemaster would be there but he did not arrive while they were in Raimiti. So not very reliable.
I would split your time between the south and north! The north is also very nice for diving, esp. the place they call alibaba(or something like that): it is like being in a big aquarium!! Lots of fish!!
Tetamanu village is in the village (very small village!!) but I do not think you can walk or swim to Motu Aito (maybe by canoe)
You can not go wrong in Fakara: it is always amazing wathever you book and where ever you go!
Have fun!
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#67723 - 10/31/07 08:46 AM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: auwe]
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Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Auwe, Thanks for sharing more precious information. It is very helpful indeed!
Since Tetamanu diving center is not so reliable, then I guess I have to switch to Motu Aito instead. I really hate waiting for people and don't want them to spoil my vacation in case if they don't show up. I guess I will have some decent dive with Te Ava Nui Diving Center. Also when I imagine I can go fishing tuna with Manihi in the early morning.... jumping into his private fish farm...wow... really exciting, Cannot wait! Many many thanks!!!
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
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#67816 - 11/01/07 08:35 PM
Re: Fakavara: north or S.? If south, tatemanu vil. or Motu Aito?
[Re: Peter 2]
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Russell7085
Junior Member
Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 37
Loc: Dallas
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Auwe, after the above comments, I wrote an email to Te Ava Nui and, like you, they responded today that they wouldn't stop at Raimiti.
My club of diving is situated to the north of Fakarava to about 45 km of the Raimiti pension. I cannot come really to look as far for you, on the other hand to the pass south of Fakarava, there is a club the "Tetamanu Diving Center" addresses e-mail: tetamanuvillage@mail.pf and maybe that the Raimiti pension has an arrangement with this club of diving.
I've already written Tetamanu, and they said they wouldn't either. Sigh....
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