Sports Events in French Polynesia

These outrigger canoes are great fun to paddle about in. If you have ever been in a single scull (to the uninitiated, it is a very thin 'rowing' boat for just one person), this will feel very stable. On the other hand, if you haven't, you will have a good chance of turning one of these over!

If you don't have experience, make sure you don't take any cameras that would be 'allergic' to water in the boat with you, or anything that might sink should it suddenly find itself in the water! Don't try and swap positions in the canoe once you set out unless you exercise extreme caution, unless of course you don't mind a dip! You are very unlikely to roll it over the side of the rigger, but the other side has nothing to brace the boat.

Equipment: You'll need a boat, and at least one paddle, depending on how many people you have in the boat.

Once you had paid to visit the Lagoonarium on Moorea, it was free to use most of the facilities there. This made it incredibly good value in French Polynesia, where everything seems to be at rip-off prices.

These boats are very easy to steer and hard to capsize and great fun. But be careful you don't burn too much. I appear to be wearing a lot of clothing in this picture, and it wasn't because it was cold! I had just started to burn with all the sun reflecting off the water!

When I tried to go all the way around the Lagoonarium in this, the wind got so strong on one side of the island that I ended up turning back as I reckon I would have otherwise capsized or been blown into the rocks! So take care.

The clear tropical waters of French Polynesia are ideal for year-round diving. You can choose between diving in the lagoons, passes and outer coral reefs. The underwater scenery is different from island to island, but magnificent on every spot. The average water temperature is 29°C (85°F) during the summer months of November to March and 25°C (79°F) during the winter months of April to October. Underwater visibility is normally good up to distances of 30 meters (100 feet).

Make a boat trip around the island in a typical outrigger canoe. Most of the time you will do some snorkeling in the coral garden, visit a motu for some picnic and relaxing on the white sand beach, and search for the graceful manta ray. When you are lucky, you can enjoy some typical Tahitian songs played on the ukelele.

You can rent a jet ski for 2 or 3 hours. Guides will take you around the island inside the lagoon. You will stop on a motu, snorkel in beautiful coral gardens, feed the fish, and if you are lucky dive with the sharks and stingrays.

With only a mask, fins and a snorkel you can discover the wonderful underwater world of the islands. Most fishes and other marine life are found between 1 and 3 meters deep. Just don't touch the coral reefs.