Dive Review of
Manihi Blue Nui/Pearl Beach Resort in
French Polynesia/Manihi

[Unspecified]

Dive Conditions

Guided dives but not hand held.  45-50 mins with 3 minute safety stop.  Max
depth usually 80-100 with no need to go deeper.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Manihi is a tiny attol in the same vicinity as Rangiroa.  While Rangiroa
has gotten big due to high energy drift dives with schools of sharks,
Manihi has stayed under the radar.  The diving is quite good.  Crystal
clear water with such and abundance of fish life at certain sites that I
was speechless.  Hugh schools of fish filled my visual field.  "The
Drop Off" is just that.  A wall that dives to 4500 feet just outside
the pass that is the only navigable pass into the lagoon formed by Manihi. 
Blue Nui is located at the Pearl Beach resort and both the resort and the
dive group are the only ones on the island.  They are both top notch. Small
groups, fast boats and sites no more than 10 minutes from the hotel.  Gear
is taken care of and there is never more than 5 divers with each
divemaster.  Saw Mantas on several dives with a school of 4 being the most
seen on any one dive.  Very close encounters with these huge but gentle
creatures.  Nice coral formations with great fish life as well. Fair number
of Grey and Black reef sharks as well.  Humpback whales come through in
August, but had not arrived yet.  I did see and snorkel with them in Moorea
earlier in my trip.
     The Pearl Beach Resort is paradise.  Beautiful beach and overwater
Bungalows with wonderful cooling breeze left no need for A/C.  They treat
you like royalty from arrival to departure.  Nightly fumigation keeps
mosquitos under control for most part.  Restaurant at hotel is literally
the only one on the entire island.  It is quite good, but very expensive. 
Took free water taxi to only store on island to buy bottled water, beer,
snacks.  Brought granola bars etc...in luggage and did simple breakfast and
lunch so big bill at dinner a bit more acceptable.  No shops to speak of
outside resort so do your gift getting earlier at one of your other stops. 

     Motu (small uninhabited islet) picnic a real treat.  Stop off in
lagoon over reef to hand line fish for lunch.  Great day at the islet with
fresh fruit, fish, chicken etc.....Not to be missed. 

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