Anyone got info on the French Polynesia Master liveaboard, launching 2016?

[Wingy]

Those clips are a bit mysterious...were there any paying customers on board?

 

[Worldwide Dive and Sail]

Since its launch, the French Polynesia Master has already had 4 trips. Here you can see some of the latest pictures our cruise director on board is sending us!

 

[Wingy]

No dive pics?

 

[Cali_diver]

Looks kind of lonely...

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

I see there has been plenty of discussion over the past year or more on this destination and the new French Polynesia Master and I am only sorry that I had not comes across this debate earlier. I led a group on the TAHITI AGGRESSOR in March 2006 - as I recall it was 14nts from Rangiroa to Fakarava, diving Tiputa on Rangiroa and both north and south passes in Fakarava and many islands inbetween. For this group of very experienced world travelling divers, it was possibly their best trip ever and we all have fond memories of Great Hammerheads and solitary Tiger Sharks, as well as hundreds if not thousands of grey reef sharks, eagle rays, friendly dolphins and the list goes on. Since the we have booked the Aqua Tiki many times - great boat, and are working with the Itemata - also a great boat. These boats follow a recognised European dive profile of 2-3 dives per day with large 15lt tanks, meaning long deep dives. As the best diving is on an inward current thru the passes, 2-3 quality dives per day makes perfect sense. We have been awaiting the arrival of the French Polynesia Master with high hopes, and in fact ended up with the first charter on her staring Dec 31. As a brand new boat there were a few teething problems, to be expected after it had just steamed almost 7000 miles from the yard where she was newly built, but by the end of the trip, most things were running smoothly, and the feedback from the second trip and subsequent trips has just kept getting better. Its a very expensive destination to operate in, and there are many challenges to be overcome, but I am confident this boat will turn out to be one of the world's top live-aboards.
Finally, the main reason that the boat is showing so few spaces is that when the new boat was announced, we and many other agents/groups, booked charters for our clients over the first few years of operations.
However there are spaces out there even if they do not show on the boat's website, and for those with some flexibility, due to a late cancellation, we still have 8 spaces on her for a 10 night trip from Fakarava to Rangiroa for March 22-April 1, which is being offered at a very affordable rate. See our website and availability at Search for Spaces or contact me at Dom@diveadvice.com - I hope that some of you will have the opportunity to take advantage of this - it really is a spectacular destination.

 

[Wingy]

Thanks for the info Dom. Does the itinery do both North and South passes at Rangi and Faka?

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Yes she does north and south at Fakarava and Tiputa at Rangi. I also have clients going in a few days earlier who will stay a few additional days land based in South Fakarava and a few days longer at Rangiroa. I have them staying lovely pensions which are relatively cheap and as we are offering the final spaces on the boat at 50% off, then if one can take the time, then one might as well stay as long as you can.

 

[Wingy]

All good but I still have one question.....is Lili's still on the Pier lol. Which Pension do you use?

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

I like Alain's Pension Bounty if available and Tetamanu in S.Fak. Yes Chez Lili is still there offering tasty morsels

 

[Cali_diver]

Great to hear!!