The low lying coral atolls of the Tuamotos present serious challenges. Not only are the reefs difficult to see but the passes into the lagoons within the atolls often have very fast and turbulent flows making entry intimidating. No wonder they call these the dangerous isles! Despite the danger we loved these remote islands. The Southern islands were nuclear testing sites for the French so we went through the middle of the archipelago and visited Rairoa, Makemo and Tahanea. Rairoa was where Kontiki ended her voyage and was a remote and sparsely populated island. We visited a pearl farm there but sadly did not have our cameras at the time. Makemo was more developed and we enjoyed being able to go to shop and buy bread as well as being taken diving by a local operator. Tahanea was probably our favorite. Uninhabited, but for, a handful of seasonal copra workers we found beauty, solitude and an underwater paradise here…..

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