Tuamotu

Antoine's view

This archipelago has long been known as "the Dangerous archipelago" : it's true that navigation there is perilous, due to the strong and unpredictable currents that cross its waters, to low altitude of its islets, and, even worse, the many reefs, just above water that constitute a large part of the coral barriers of the atolls. Satellite navigation (GPS) has made matters much easier, but one must remain attentive not to lose one's boat, as happened to many, on these treacherous barriers, often invisible one mile only off.

"Paradise is at this price", once wrote famous French sailor Bernard Moitessier, relating his entering under sail the narrow and winding pass into one of the atolls in the Tuamotu; even with an engine, even after figuring out precisely the tide tables, I feel afraid when I enter one of these passes. but inside, it's so wonderful to sail these turquoise lagoons, sheltered from the ocean swells, surrounded by heavenly looking islets.. but don't be mistaken, life in the Tuamotu is tough, few plants grow here, the inhabitants depend on fishing, and, more recently, on cultivating Tahiti's black pearl, and their living conditions are hard, threatened by cyclones or tidal waves flooding their islands, whose altitude doesn't exceed 3 to 6 ft.
For me, the Tuamotu's riches are their immensity, the diversity of the islets and anchorages my boat finds there ; It's son great to drop my anchor for a few days a few dozen yards away from a golden beach, in 6 ft of water, white sand bottom; to pick green coconuts from the trees along the beach, or to take walks to the ouside reefon which swells exlode loudly... that's just to keep in mind that outside, in the open sea, an there, at at the far end of the World, life is not as beautiful, as peaceful...

Photos

Videos

Tuamotu...

Google Maps

Agrandir le plan

My favorite links