ocean#50 pg136-143 destination lr

7/30/2019 Ocean#50 Pg136-143 Destination LR

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its difficult to get your head around just how much there is

explore below the waters of the s outh pacific. Christelle hol

and dive instructor/photographer rodolphe holler look at t

endless scuba diving and snorkelling possibilities in the regio

during the 17th century, European explorers

tirelessly cruised the unknown Pacifc Ocean

in search o Eldorado, braving the dangers

o Cape Horn and discovering new lands and their

indigenous inhabitants. In the old days, none o them had

a clue as to the treasures lying beneath their ships.

It was only in the 1960s when snorkelling started

becoming popular and tourism developed that the

amazing potential o this area became clear. Jacques

Cousteau, one o the pioneers o scuba diving, started

exploring this part o the world, realising what unique

marine biodiversity the region hosted. Today, the South

Pacifc and Indo-Pacifc regions host some o the most

beautiul unspoilt underwater wonders on the planet.There is a growing interest rom superyacht owners

and charter guests to cruise the crystal clear warm

waters o this area. Some will say it is too ar rom the

usual hubs o the Med and the Caribbean, however, the

average size o these boats is growing and more and

more o them are built to cross the oceans and explore.

Although the Med and Caribbean are stunning areas,

they are also crowded and unortunately, in many areas,

the underwater auna has suered rom pollution and

damage. Distance rom the main industrialised regions

and high-population densities makes the South- and

Indo-Pacifc regions a gem or those seeking secluded

areas, those places where one eels they are the frst to

set oot ashore and yet still fnd beautiul luxury resorts

and spas, fne dining, local culture and above all, saety

and peace o mind.

From Tahiti through Australia to

Asia, the good navigation conditions,

ports o call, quality o provisioning and

development o the various countries along

the way easily allow a two-year trip on a

yacht to discover Polynesia, Melanesia

and the Asian continent. Exploring the

Pacifc involves much more than visiting

one place. It is an odyssey through the ew

remaining pristine tropical locations in the

world. Ocean conservation is a priority and

keen divers and snorkelers will all in love

with this area.

We at Tahiti Private Exhibitions havebeen thoroughly exploring this part o the

world on superyachts, reaching the most

remote places, diving unexplored areas

with our clients and witnessing unique

underwater phenomena. As ar as must-

sees are concerned, it is a real struggle

to choose, as an array o destinations all

deserve to be explored. However, here

is a sample o some memorable spots I

strongly recommend i you take a journey

to the edge o the world.

what lies

RODOlPHEHOllER

/TAHITI-PRIvATE-ExPEDITIOnS.COM


3/5

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TahiTi and The socieTy islands

Also called French Polynesia, this country hosts 118

islands spread over a territory as large as Western

Europe, in which Tahiti is the main island and port o

call. These islands, many o which are uninhabited,

represent just one per cent o the region. inety-nineper cent o this huge territory is let or ocean exploration

and is an ideal playground or superyachts. Among the

most isolated places in the world, these islands act like

an oasis in the desert and attract bountiul marine lie,

where dolphins and whales have been protected since

2002 and sharks since 2006. The Society Islands, which

Tahiti belongs to, are lush and mountainous, and oer

land as well as water activities.

In Bora Bora and Tahiti, go on a

ocean dive along the ree with

lemon sharks. Swimming very c

the bottom, they will come and

while hundreds o small colour

swim around you. ater on, join

rays in a stunning ballet at a cl

station in one o the most beau

lagoons in the world: Bora Bora

the experience o a lietime and

with majestic humpback whales

August and October.

Finally, certainly the best div

around the Tuamotu atolls, loc

northeast o Tahiti. Here, lots o

experiences are possible, suchmemorable cuddle with a wild

dolphin during a dive in Rangi

great hammerhead sharks, ma

around most o the islands and

special south pass o Fakarava

(a UESCO biosphere reserve

mention thousands o groupers

amid grey shark predation.

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CivilizatioN is what makes you siCk.paul gauguin

hiGh socieTy

Tahiti is the largestisland in theWindward group oFrench Polynesia,located in thearchipelago o theSociety Islandsin the southernPacifc Ocean. Theislands high andmountainous terrainsurrounded by coralrees was ormed byvolcanic activity.

RODOlPHE

HOllER/TAHITI-PRIvATE-ExPEDITIOnS.COM


4/5

JaWdRoPPinG

Above: Like manyeels, the blueribbon eel issometimes thought

to be angry oraggressive, becauseits mouth is otenopen, appearingready to strike. Inreality, the eel isonly breathing.In the wild, theribbon eel buriesitsel in sand orhides in rocks orrees, dashing outto eed on shrimpand fsh.

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ausTRalias GReaT BaRRieR Reef

The Barrier Ree is the only animal

ormation on Earth that can be seen rom

space. ocated o north Queensland,

with a length o about 2,500 kilometres,

the largest coral ree in the world oers

endless cruising and diving opportunities

to those in search o adventure. The

French explorer Bougainville was the frst

to identiy it, but Captain Cook in 1770, in

an attempt to discover the area, couldnt

have explored the ree any closer as the

Endeavouractually became wrecked on it.

The Ree is nowadays a protected marine

park and a UESCO World Heritage site.

The Ree eatures endless snorkel

and dive opportunities among the 1,500

species o coral and myriad tropical fsh,

with abulous cruising possibilities. This is

The RePuBlic of fiJi

As a part o Melanesia, Fiji is culturally and

geographically very dierent rom French Polynesia, yet

just as attractive. Suva and adi in iti evu Island are

the main ports o call, and navigation conditions to the

other islands are excellent. Melanesian people are very

riendly and it is recommended to participate in a Kava

ceremony where one pays a visit to the chie o a tribe on

a remote island to ask permission to anchor the ship and

dive. Kava, the result o a macerated juice o a local root,

numbs your mouth and is an acquired taste, but it will

allow a unique exchange with the locals.

The remote au group will oer special cultural

opportunities as well as diving and snorkelling along

colourul rees. Closer to southeast Asia, the cradle o

thousands o coral species, Fiji eatures more colourul

coral than Tahiti. Whether you dive the Yasawas, Savu

Savu or the amous Mount Mutiny or E6, you will be

surrounded by thousands o tropical fsh, including the

blue ribbon eel, and amazing coral ormations. The

dives are easy and shallow and oer the opportunity

to stay longer under the water while enjoying the

magnifcent scenery.

Beqa Diving, based in the south o Suva, is defnitely

worth a visit. This local dive shop arranges daily eeding

sessions with huge bull and tiger sharks one o the

most renowned dives in Fiji. And although we still have

a preerence or the more pristine and vibrant dive spots

around the country, Beqa Diving is a place to ulfl many

peoples dive wishes.

one o the ew places that does not require

any advertising to convince any ocean

lover o the beauty o its underwater world.

Many areas are spectacular, rom the

amous Whitsunday Islands to Cape York.

But i there is one single memorable dive

along the ree, it is undoubtedly the wreck

o the Yongala, which has an unsurpassed

reputation in the scuba diving world.

Yongalasank in 1911 o Cape Bowling

Green during a hurricane, sadly leaving

no survivors. She remained undiscovered

until 1958 when she was located and

identifed. The 107-metre long shipwreck

is home to a vast array o fsh, stingrays,

sea snakes and turtles. One will sense

both drama and excitement when diving

along and inside the ship, which oers a

striking sample o Australias exceptional

marine lie.

destination140

liVinG colouR

Above right: TheGreat Barrier Reecan be seen romouter space and is

the worlds biggestsingle structure madeby living organisms.

RODOlPHEHOllER


MANDURAH

www.mandurahboa

11-13 OC

MANDURAH

FISHING & SA

Prese

BIG

WEST AUSTRALIAS BOAT SH


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Malaysia and The souTh china sea

While Indonesia already benefts rom increased tourism

and a well-deserved reputation among divers, one

neighbouring country is slowly building its reputation

in the area. Malaysia (mainland and Borneo) is one o

the next trendy destinations in the superyacht world,

eaturing nice cruising grounds and many protected

areas. Sae and riendly, and ascinating culturally,

the country also has a lot to oer in terms o land and

marine conservation. The region is home to 60 per

cent o the coral biodiversity in the world. The shallow

seabed is spectacular with its stunning spectrum o

colours. ibrant and surprising shades and shapes co-

exist, sheltering an array o magnifcent fsh species, ascolourul as their hosting corals.

On the northeast coast, close to the Thai border, stay in

one o the high-end resorts or anchor your yacht in one o

the bays o the protected Perhentian and Redang islands.

There, dozens o potential dives await you in the marine

reserves. Borneo, in the Sabah state, is not only a place

to encounter native orangutans and pygmy elephants

in the rainorest, but also a amous place to dive and

snorkel in Sipadan, Kapalai or ancayan islands. There is

more to see than meets the eye. One o our unorgettable

encounters was with a school o rare bumphead

parrotfsh, swimming quietly close to us in search o

an interesting meal. Malaysia will soon be on the list o

essential adventure dive destinations or superyachts.

www.tahiti-private-expeditions.com

www.superyacht-private-expeditions.com

tahiti PRivate exPeditioNs

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destination142RODOlPHE

HOllER


ocean#50 pg136-143 destination lr

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