Part of the Tuamotu Archipelago, the atoll of Manihi is made up of a series of small islands or motus that completely enclose a lovely blue lagoon.

Sparsely populated and pretty far from the hub islands of French Polynesia, Manihi rates a mention because it is the one place where the black-lipped oysters, found only in French Polynesia are cultivated for their rare black pearls with their exquisite silver grey sheen. The 19 km long lagoon of aquamarine water is the centre of black pearl farming with many farms scattered around the little atolls. Famed as much for its pearls as it is for diving sites, the Manihi lagoon presents extraordinary opportunities for scuba diving, snorkelling, and spear fishing.

The Tairapa Pass allows the entry into the lagoon of a number of marine creatures – barracudas, hammerhead and other sharks, manta and eagle rays, shoals of brightly coloured fish, giant turtles and a variety of corals. The lagoon doubles up as a marine circus with the coral reefs providing the walls in this underwater amphitheatre where visitors can watch experienced diving masters feed a whole host of sharks – gray, reef, hammerhead, black tip et al. 

 312 miles northeast of Tahiti, Manihi has a small population of 400 people who live in the village of Turipaoa along the Tairapa Pass. The island has just one hotel, a deluxe resort complex of beach cottages and traditional Polynesian style over water fares.
The island has convenient connections by air and boat with Rangiroa, onward connections are available at Rangiroa for Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea.

For detailed country and visitor information, see French Polynesia.