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edge of the earth

Journey deep into the south pacific ocean

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Rodolphe holler / tahiti-private-expeditions.com

uring the 17th century, European explorers tirelessly cruised the unknown Pacific Ocean in search of Eldorado, braving the dangers of Cape Horn and discovering new lands and their indigenous inhabitants. In the old days, none of 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 of this area became clear. Jacques Cousteau, one of the pioneers of scuba diving, started exploring this part of the world, realising what unique marine biodiversity the region hosted. Today, the South Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions host some of the most beautiful unspoilt underwater wonders on the planet. There is a growing interest from superyacht owners and charter guests to cruise the crystal clear warm waters of this area. Some will say it is too far from the usual hubs of the Med and the Caribbean, however, the average size of these boats is growing and more and more of them are built to cross the oceans and explore. Although the Med and Caribbean are stunning areas, they are also crowded and unfortunately, in many areas, the underwater fauna has suffered from pollution and damage. Distance from the main industrialised regions and high-population densities makes the South- and Indo-Pacific regions a gem for those seeking secluded areas, those places where one feels they are the first to set foot ashore and yet still find beautiful luxury resorts and spas, fine dining, local culture and above all, safety and peace of mind.

From Tahiti through Australia to Asia, the good navigation conditions, ports of call, quality of provisioning and development of 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 Pacific involves much more than visiting one place. It is an odyssey through the few remaining pristine tropical locations in the world. Ocean conservation is a priority and keen divers and snorkelers will fall in love with this area. We at Tahiti Private Exhibitions have been thoroughly exploring this part of the world on superyachts, reaching the most remote places, diving unexplored areas with our clients and witnessing unique underwater phenomena. As far as mustsees are concerned, it is a real struggle to choose, as an array of destinations all deserve to be explored. However, here is a sample of some memorable spots I strongly recommend if you take a journey to the edge of the world.

Its difficult to get your head around just how much there is to explore below the waters of the South Pacific. Christelle Holler and dive instructor/photographer rodolphe holler look at the endless scuba diving and snorkelling possibilities in the region.

What lies

beneath

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Civilization is what makes you sick.

Pau l G au g u i n

HIGH SOCIETY Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands high and mountainous terrain surrounded by coral reefs was formed by volcanic activity.

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 of call. These islands, many of which are uninhabited, represent just one per cent of the region. Ninety-nine per cent of this huge territory is left for ocean exploration and is an ideal playground for superyachts. Among the most isolated places in the world, these islands act like an oasis in the desert and attract bountiful marine life, 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 offer land as well as water activities.

In Bora Bora and Tahiti, go on a morning ocean dive along the reef with friendly lemon sharks. Swimming very close to the bottom, they will come and greet you while hundreds of small colourful fish swim around you. Later on, join manta rays in a stunning ballet at a cleaning station in one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world: Bora Bora. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime and snorkel with majestic humpback whales between August and October. Finally, certainly the best diving lies around the Tuamotu atolls, located northeast of Tahiti. Here, lots of experiences are possible, such as a memorable cuddle with a wild bottlenose dolphin during a dive in Rangiroa atoll, great hammerhead sharks, manta rays around most of the islands and the very special south pass of Fakarava atoll (a UNESCO biosphere reserve), not to mention thousands of groupers mating amid grey shark predation.

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Rodolphe holler / tahiti-private-expeditions.com

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the republic of Fiji As a part of Melanesia, Fiji is culturally and geographically very different from French Polynesia, yet just as attractive. Suva and Nadi in Viti Levu Island are the main ports of call, and navigation conditions to the other islands are excellent. Melanesian people are very friendly and it is recommended to participate in a Kava ceremony where one pays a visit to the chief of a tribe on a remote island to ask permission to anchor the ship and dive. Kava, the result of a macerated juice of a local root, numbs your mouth and is an acquired taste, but it will allow a unique exchange with the locals. The remote Lau group will offer special cultural opportunities as well as diving and snorkelling along colourful reefs. Closer to southeast Asia, the cradle of thousands of coral species, Fiji features more colourful coral than Tahiti. Whether you dive the Yasawas, Savu Savu or the famous Mount Mutiny or E6, you will be surrounded by thousands of tropical fish, including the blue ribbon eel, and amazing coral formations. The dives are easy and shallow and offer the opportunity to stay longer under the water while enjoying the magnificent scenery. Beqa Diving, based in the south of Suva, is definitely worth a visit. This local dive shop arranges daily feeding sessions with huge bull and tiger sharks one of the most renowned dives in Fiji. And although we still have a preference for the more pristine and vibrant dive spots around the country, Beqa Diving is a place to fulfil many peoples dive wishes.

Australias Great Barrier Reef The Barrier Reef is the only animal formation on Earth that can be seen from space. Located off north Queensland, with a length of about 2,500 kilometres, the largest coral reef in the world offers endless cruising and diving opportunities to those in search of adventure. The French explorer Bougainville was the first to identify it, but Captain Cook in 1770, in an attempt to discover the area, couldnt have explored the reef any closer as the Endeavour actually became wrecked on it. The Reef is nowadays a protected marine park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Reef features endless snorkel and dive opportunities among the 1,500 species of coral and myriad tropical fish, with fabulous cruising possibilities. This is

JAWDROPPING Above: Like many eels, the blue ribbon eel is sometimes thought to be angry or aggressive, because its mouth is often open, appearing ready to strike. In reality, the eel is only breathing. In the wild, the ribbon eel buries itself in sand or hides in rocks or reefs, dashing out to feed on shrimp and fish.

LIVING COLOUR Above right: The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the worlds biggest single structure made by living organisms.

MANDURAH

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one of the few places that does not require any advertising to convince any ocean lover of the beauty of its underwater world. Many areas are spectacular, from the famous Whitsunday Islands to Cape York. But if there is one single memorable dive along the reef, it is undoubtedly the wreck of the Yongala, which has an unsurpassed reputation in the scuba diving world. Yongala sank in 1911 off Cape Bowling Green during a hurricane, sadly leaving no survivors. She remained undiscovered until 1958 when she was located and identified. The 107-metre long shipwreck is home to a vast array of fish, stingrays, sea snakes and turtles. One will sense both drama and excitement when diving along and inside the ship, which offers a striking sample of Australias exceptional marine life.

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Malaysia and the South China Sea While Indonesia already benefits from 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 of the next trendy destinations in the superyacht world, featuring nice cruising grounds and many protected areas. Safe and friendly, and fascinating culturally, the country also has a lot to offer in terms of land and marine conservation. The region is home to 60 per cent of the coral biodiversity in the world. The shallow seabed is spectacular with its stunning spectrum of colours. Vibrant and surprising shades and shapes coexist, sheltering an array of magnificent fish species, as colourful as their hosting corals. On the northeast coast, close to the Thai border, stay in one of the high-end resorts or anchor your yacht in one of the bays of the protected Perhentian and Redang islands. There, dozens of 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 rainforest, but also a famous place to dive and snorkel in Sipadan, Kapalai or Lancayan islands. There is more to see than meets the eye. One of our unforgettable encounters was with a school of rare bumphead parrotfish, swimming quietly close to us in search of an interesting meal. Malaysia will soon be on the list of essential adventure dive destinations for superyachts.
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CLOWN AROUND Clownfish and sea anemones have a symbiotic relationship, each providing a number of benefits to the other. Clownfish are omnivorous and can feed on undigested food from their host anemones, and the fecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone.

Tahiti Private Expeditions

Dedicated to providing custom services ranging from personalised itinerary planning, scuba and snorkelling safaris, custom HD videos, incredible rebreather diving sessions and dolphin and whale watching, the exclusive services and dive team offers privacy and discretion while providing adventures that will be remembered for a lifetime. Tahiti Private Expeditions also contributes to underwater documentary productions with logistics and itinerary planning, video and technical diving. Due to increased requests from clients, the company, via its Aucklandbased subsidiary Superyacht Private Expeditions, now offers the same services all around the Pacific region.

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