Food and alcohol are insanely expensive there. I remember them telling me that a watermelon was $35. Everything is imported. We live on baguettes and cheese anytime we were on land!
Anyone got info on the French Polynesia Master liveaboard, launching 2016?
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Wingy
Contributor
I think the cost of provisioning and fuel factor is why I see many barriers to a successful LOB doing the Tuomotos - its hard to see much info but it seems they out in the tuomotos but then ran most of their trips in the societies...i guess distances to dive spots are a little easier in the Societies.
If someone got a boat in the water doing different routes like the circle tuomotos and the odd trip out to the Australs id be booked in a second..but I also realise we would be talking very very expensive rates.
Cali Diver - Changs in Bora Bora was once in the guiness book of records as the worlds most expensive store. Its a pity more people dont get out of their overwater bungalows and go for a walk around the island and step off the tourist path. I happily sat on my OW bungalow deck using my dive knife to cut open baguettes and frommage from the supermarche up the road and hitch hiked home. The mad town mechanic and his next wife I hitched a lift with gave me a bag of candied mangos because i was too skinny
More people should get out of those resorts.
If someone got a boat in the water doing different routes like the circle tuomotos and the odd trip out to the Australs id be booked in a second..but I also realise we would be talking very very expensive rates.
Cali Diver - Changs in Bora Bora was once in the guiness book of records as the worlds most expensive store. Its a pity more people dont get out of their overwater bungalows and go for a walk around the island and step off the tourist path. I happily sat on my OW bungalow deck using my dive knife to cut open baguettes and frommage from the supermarche up the road and hitch hiked home. The mad town mechanic and his next wife I hitched a lift with gave me a bag of candied mangos because i was too skinny
More people should get out of those resorts.
OP
cephalopod2
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Not the only Siren liveaboard to run aground, burn down or sink, as you are likely aware.
If you think the marketing for this boat exceeds even the usual hype of the dive/liveaboard industry, that may be because French Polynesia is itself an extremely hyped location. It has made several "most overrated" lists as a result. Not only is this LOB positioned as the only game in town, it's luxury branded inside, outside & upside down.
I think you are wise to be both wary and cynical. It's so easy to promise/advertise the moon and not deliver.
Wingy
Contributor
Tahiti Agressor Live Aboard. Scuba diving and travel packages to Tahiti
That seems to be the route they started out in 2002 but by 2006 were doing almost exclusively the Societies. Leaving out of Rangi and returning to Rangi would still require that flight from Papeete so perhaps this is the reason they changed itineraries.
That seems to be the route they started out in 2002 but by 2006 were doing almost exclusively the Societies. Leaving out of Rangi and returning to Rangi would still require that flight from Papeete so perhaps this is the reason they changed itineraries.
OP
cephalopod2
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Wingy
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Food and supplies are shipped to Rangi Faka and the Marquisas by the Arenuii supply ship weekly (from memory it restocks Rangi on a thursday) - just as an example that I can recall I paid 20FP for a packet of panadol on rangi but 20FP on Moorea would get me 4 packets. BB and the route the Aggressor was taking would have less dependance on the Arenuii if they needed anything after provisioning in Papeete. Id imagine they wouldnt need to take on provisions but Rangi and Faka dont have that WOW Honeymoon Brochure scenery that the Societies so perhaps their customers were going hey I am in Tahiti where are those amazing mountains and bungalows this doesnt look like it does in the magazines. Ironically it was cheaper adding in Rangi on an Air Tahiti Airpass for that leg than it is to book a single PPT > Rangi return ticket for me. While the societies are perhaps the prettiest IMO the diving there is the poorest.
Manuel Sam
Contributor
Since the discussion has gotten slightly off-topic and reference was made to the former Tahiti Aggressor, FWIW, I can at least share a bit of my folklore knowledge. I was on it in January 2005 and on its next to last, if not last, Tuamotos trip April 15-22, 2006. It was a trip that went Fakarava to Rangiroa, but the crew opted to spend a day diving the Southern Pass in Fakarava first because it was a rare occasion that they could do it. The normal itinerary only included the Northern Pass, then Toau, Apataki, and finally Rangiroa, and then the reverse when going back to Fakarava the following week. After that, they relocated the boat to the Society Islands, and the rest is history.
Initially, the franchise owners were planning to relocate in February 2006. I am guessing that they received enough flak from customers who had already booked and paid that they agreed to at least honor all trips thru the latter part of April 2006.
Some of what I heard as reasons has already been expounded on here - the difficulty in reliably getting food and fuel to the Tuamotos. Along those lines, I am sure that basic supplies and spare parts had to be equally difficult. The franchise owners - not Aggressor - also cited the apparent reliability (lack thereof) of Air Tahiti in getting customers from Papeete to the Tuamotos (I don't recall ever running into such problems in the 4 trips I have done to the Tuamotos), vs. getting customers to the boat within the Society Islands, since there are more daily flights from let's say PPT to Bora Bora.
The other reasons that I heard are merely hearsay and should be treated as such. One of them was that due to the nature of the diving in the Tuamotos, they could not attract the average Joe Shmoe diver, only advanced/experienced divers. That does not jive well with previous postings on this thread that alluded to the boat always being filled to capacity, altho both of the trips I went on were full. One of them was a private charter tho. Besides, liveaboards that do Cocos, Galapagos and Malpelo, to name a few, survive just fine catering to the more experienced divers. The other hearsay reason was that the locals were none too happy with their presence, and more specifically, that shark feeding was being done from the Aggressor, because they felt that it affected shark behavior. Many locals spearfish, so I can see where that could be a problem. But that is yet another topic that is off-topic and best left for discussion elsewhere in the forum.
Veering back a little on topic, and when the FP Master will start running, assuming it hasn't already. Growing pains is a fact of life. I don't know where the boat was being built but Murphy always has a way of rearing its ugly head. My one-week trip on the Sri Lanka Aggressor would have started today but got canceled exactly a week ago. Mine would have been the third trip after its maiden trip.
And as far as the boat being completely booked by dive travel specialists and whoever two years in advance, not entirely out of the realm of possibilities. That is typical of choice destinations in the Eastern Pacific, altho I am more used to seeing that kind of demand for high season weeks. Trips that I have chartered in the Eastern Pacific - be it Cocos, Galapagos or Socorros - have always been at least two years in advance. Otherwise, you are seldom going to get a choice week or trip. It is a bit unusual that it is booked solid yearround tho, but who knows. Maybe those charterers know something we don't......it is certainly damn good diving.
There is another local boat that I have done that is available for charters only, and that is the Itemata, which can offer up to three dives a day.
Initially, the franchise owners were planning to relocate in February 2006. I am guessing that they received enough flak from customers who had already booked and paid that they agreed to at least honor all trips thru the latter part of April 2006.
Some of what I heard as reasons has already been expounded on here - the difficulty in reliably getting food and fuel to the Tuamotos. Along those lines, I am sure that basic supplies and spare parts had to be equally difficult. The franchise owners - not Aggressor - also cited the apparent reliability (lack thereof) of Air Tahiti in getting customers from Papeete to the Tuamotos (I don't recall ever running into such problems in the 4 trips I have done to the Tuamotos), vs. getting customers to the boat within the Society Islands, since there are more daily flights from let's say PPT to Bora Bora.
The other reasons that I heard are merely hearsay and should be treated as such. One of them was that due to the nature of the diving in the Tuamotos, they could not attract the average Joe Shmoe diver, only advanced/experienced divers. That does not jive well with previous postings on this thread that alluded to the boat always being filled to capacity, altho both of the trips I went on were full. One of them was a private charter tho. Besides, liveaboards that do Cocos, Galapagos and Malpelo, to name a few, survive just fine catering to the more experienced divers. The other hearsay reason was that the locals were none too happy with their presence, and more specifically, that shark feeding was being done from the Aggressor, because they felt that it affected shark behavior. Many locals spearfish, so I can see where that could be a problem. But that is yet another topic that is off-topic and best left for discussion elsewhere in the forum.
Veering back a little on topic, and when the FP Master will start running, assuming it hasn't already. Growing pains is a fact of life. I don't know where the boat was being built but Murphy always has a way of rearing its ugly head. My one-week trip on the Sri Lanka Aggressor would have started today but got canceled exactly a week ago. Mine would have been the third trip after its maiden trip.
And as far as the boat being completely booked by dive travel specialists and whoever two years in advance, not entirely out of the realm of possibilities. That is typical of choice destinations in the Eastern Pacific, altho I am more used to seeing that kind of demand for high season weeks. Trips that I have chartered in the Eastern Pacific - be it Cocos, Galapagos or Socorros - have always been at least two years in advance. Otherwise, you are seldom going to get a choice week or trip. It is a bit unusual that it is booked solid yearround tho, but who knows. Maybe those charterers know something we don't......it is certainly damn good diving.
There is another local boat that I have done that is available for charters only, and that is the Itemata, which can offer up to three dives a day.
As an operator we fully understand skepticism when it comes to a new boat. While we can never convince all the people all of the time, the boat is almost finished, as per the picture below .
We are now working on the interior finishing, with sea trials early next month followed by departure to French Polynesia in order to begin operations in December.
It is very common in the diving industry for agents and wholesalers to charter liveaboards in destinations with limited vessels and high demand in order to give them enough time to advertise their cruises and organise logistics. As the French Polynesia Master will be the only traditional liveaboard in the area, interest has been very high and the bookings reflect that. In fact we are releasing 2019 schedules very soon to cater to demand.
We are not completely sold out and still have some cruises with space so please do not hesitate to contact us at bookings@masterliveaboards.com or start to follow us on Facebook/subscribe to our newsletter in order to get our latest updates on the destination. As a note, we begin operations in the Marquesas with the French Polynesia Master in 2018 and still have a cruise with some spaces available
We are now working on the interior finishing, with sea trials early next month followed by departure to French Polynesia in order to begin operations in December.
It is very common in the diving industry for agents and wholesalers to charter liveaboards in destinations with limited vessels and high demand in order to give them enough time to advertise their cruises and organise logistics. As the French Polynesia Master will be the only traditional liveaboard in the area, interest has been very high and the bookings reflect that. In fact we are releasing 2019 schedules very soon to cater to demand.
We are not completely sold out and still have some cruises with space so please do not hesitate to contact us at bookings@masterliveaboards.com or start to follow us on Facebook/subscribe to our newsletter in order to get our latest updates on the destination. As a note, we begin operations in the Marquesas with the French Polynesia Master in 2018 and still have a cruise with some spaces available
Global traveler 67
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Has anyone actually been on the boat yet? We are looking to book for December 2017, but it does not seem like there aren't any post on the boat and or diving?
OP
cephalopod2
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Their FB page just posted photos from the boat's "first trips" on Jan 18, 2017 so I don't think that many groups have gone out yet.
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