My SPS and a few others...

[reefermadness]

We went to the same resort they shot Couples Retreat.

(excuse the algae, its being dealt with by many emeralds)

Here are a few others if anyone knows what they are?

(pretty sure its fire and ice enchinata..Has really taken off so I fragged a small branch)

Ive been calling it Incredible Hulk Stag

 

[nayrgaijin]

They're pretty cool looking, but highly illegal

 

[soccerbag]

How did you like St. Regis?

 

[Tenacious716]

Awesome pieces! I don't believe #2 is an Echinata... it reminds me of the ORA Pearlberry. Beautiful never the less!

 

[soccerbag]

Yeah, Moorea is nice as well. We have stayed at the Pearl in Moorea and a few different properties in Bora Bora and Le Tah'aa. But the best SPS and coral is in Rangiroa hands down (at least in French Polynesia). I'm just shocked you got out of Tahiti with them. 8 hr flight back to Cali and then onto Michigan - shocked they made it safely.

 

[soccerbag]

We've stayed at the Bora Bora Four Seasons, Intercontinental Thalasso Spa, Le Tah'aa Private Island Resort (in Tah'aa), Kia Ora (Rangiroa), Te Tiare (Huahine), Pearl in Tikehau, and a couple in the Marquesas. In my opinion, they are all fantastic in their own way. Rangiroa has the best snorkeling / diving, Le Tah'aa is best for a getaway with a lady friend, Bora Bora is great anytime, and Huahine and Tikehau are both very remote, beautiful, and peaceful (some of the coolest people I've ever met in Tikehau).

If you are looking for reefs, fish, etc....Fiji would by my choice (in proximity to French Polynesia). It's another amazing place. Some of the best snorkeling I've ever seen. There are many better places in other parts of the world, but it's only a few hours from Tahiti. Wish I was there right now......sigh....

 

[reefermadness]

Funny, we were going to go to Fiji this year. Its really down to an Island of Tahiti (someplace) Maldives, or even Seychelles....

How cool is it to see the fish swarm you when you feed them. I was feeding those two hundred pound triggers slim jims by hand. What would happen to my fish if I gave them a slim jim?!?

I agree, I would love to do a month there. We did a week in Hilton Moorea and a week in St Regis Bora Bora.

 

[reefermadness]

You were there recently then..That Four Seasons is only a couple of years old?

 

[soccerbag]

We try and go every year or every other. My wife is a travel agent (on the side) and is a "Tahitian Specialist". She qualifies for really cheap airfare which allows us to spend our snaps on better lodging. : )

Was at the Four Seasons in March. Very nice and great service. My favorite in Bora Bora is still the Intercontinental Thalasso Spa. That place is amazing. That and St. Regis have the nicest bungalows in all of French Polynesia hands down. Le Meridien is nice too - bungalows aren't nearly as nice but the Sea Turtle sanctuary makes it all worth while. You were right next door to it at the St. Regis and may not have even known it - they don't typically advertise it but it's a great conservation program.

 

[reefermadness]

We try and go every year or every other. My wife is a travel agent (on the side) and is a "Tahitian Specialist". She qualifies for really cheap airfare which allows us to spend our snaps on better lodging. : )

Was at the Four Seasons in March. Very nice and great service. My favorite in Bora Bora is still the Intercontinental Thalasso Spa. That place is amazing. That and St. Regis have the nicest bungalows in all of French Polynesia hands down. Le Meridien is nice too - bungalows aren't nearly as nice but the Sea Turtle sanctuary makes it all worth while. You were right next door to it at the St. Regis and may not have even known it - they don't typically advertise it but it's a great conservation program.

Thats awesome I did 12 dives, but the crown's have pretty much ahnialated the reefs..I get deals for hotels but raked on airfare, we need to combine wives and travel. The St Regis overwater was really nice. We didnt get the bungalos with outdoor hot tubs, but one step under toward the very end of the docks (pier whatever you call it). We ate at the Intercon, I had some amazing Port wine there.

If you dont mind I want to hit you up for advice come travel time....Tell me whats good to do?

In Moorea, I dove a bunch, but snorkled for 5-6 hours a day. Once you got out 300-400 yards it was amazing. You still get a buz seeing a six foot lemon shark when your snorkling all by yourself.

 

[inactive]

hmmmmm...

 

[soccerbag]

Yeah, just hit me up when it comes time. I'm not a big fan of taking things illegally off of the reef, but to each his own. I will be happy to help with travel related stuff though. It's another one of my expensive hobbies ; )

Sorry to hijack the thread - just nice to know someone else on here has seen the lagoon in Bora Bora. I've yet to see a more beautiful thing. In the spirit.....

okay, I'm done - turning the thread back over to you....

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Illegal activity, even collecting coral illegally should not be mentioned on R2R. I have removed these post and cleaned up the thread.

 

[reefermadness]

Thanks, will do.

Here is Bora Bora. Opposite side it looks like.

Moorea sunset and me in purple water snorkling.

 

[inactive]

The 3rd pic is dope....

 

[reefermadness]

No photoshop or anything. The most amazing sunsets I ever saw, I think this was the nicest though. I stayed in the water until it was dark.

Under the water.

 

[soccerbag]

Nice shot!

 

[reefermadness]

Were you there before the crowns?!? I wish I went 5 years earlier.

 

[soccerbag]

The first time we went, I saw one total - the entire time. In March, I must have seen 1000 crowns. Buggers are tearing the reef to pieces. Very sad really.

 

[reefermadness]

I actually punched out the mouths and fed them to the puffers..The large triggers ate them too. It was sad, acres of what was the nicest reef gone...Just a barren skeleton of what once was.