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I spent three months cruising in French Polynesia in 2006. Moorings has a big base at Raiatea as mentioned previously. However, If you want a more authentic experience (i.e. meet locals, see a more intact culture, eat local, stay away from tourists, etc) then skip Bora Bora (after a few weeks there my girlfriend was calling it Bora Boring) due to throngs of charter boats and cruise ship passengers and indifferent inhabitants. Although the scenery is amazing from a geological standpoint the waters have been stripped of fish and are overcrowded by tour boats. Maupiti is a mini Bora Bora less tourists and plus fish. The bad news for you is you're not allowed to take charter boats there as the reef pass is really dangerous. Dangerous with all caps. For real... Major pucker factor from my personal experience. Boats have gotten wrecked here and others have gotten in only to be trapped by BIG breaking waves in the pass for weeks on end.
The BEST places to go are:
#1 Maupiti (not allowed to go if chartering) could be the best island in Societies.
#2 Huahine But, get off the beaten path and go to the East side. Awesome bays all to yourself and tons of fish. Get out and see the archaeological ruins, vanilla beans drying in the sun, ancient fish traps, etc.
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