The islands of French Polynesia come in two basic types. There are the islands of volcanic origin like Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora, and the coral atoll islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago. The Marquises Islands, about 600 miles to the north east of Tahiti, are also of volcanic origin. The islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago are coral islands that range from 10 to 60 miles across. These islands are very narrow, however, only about two- hundred yards to half a mile wide, and form rings that enclose their lagoons. Coral atolls are built up over time by the tiny coral animals that grow on the tops of ancient sunken volcanos. In fact, the very bottom of a lagoon use to be a volcanic caldera. The coral atolls of French Polynesia exhibit a phenomenon known as geothermic end upwelling. Cold water from the bottom of the ocean surrounding the atoll seeps into the porous calcareous material below the atoll and is forced by hydrostatic pressure into the lagoon. This cold water is full of salt nutrients that organisms need to survive. This explains the great diversity of live in the lagoons, including the black lipped oysters that make pearls. This also explains why we observed the water in the lagoon to be flowing out into the ocean for five straight days.

Tahiti The island of Tahiti is actually two islands that are joined together by a small isthmus. The larger island is known as Tahiti Nui (or greater Tahiti) and the smaller part is Tahiti Iti (lesser Tahiti). Papeete is the capital of all French Polynesia and it lies on the far northwestern coast of Tahiti. This is the business heart of the islands as well as the government center. Moorea About twelve miles northwest of Tahiti lies perhaps the most beautiful place on the face of the earth, the paradise island known as Moorea. The island itself is shaped like a heart and is a favorite spot for honeymooners. On Moorea are ancient Polynesian ruins, spectacular waterfalls, gorgeous mountain scenery, lust tropical vegitation, and inviting bays. Nightly there are traditional fire dances and music. The best spot to see these dances is at the "Tiki Village." Cooks bay was made famous by Captian Cook who in 1774 became the first westerner to visit the island. At the time the tribes of Moorea and Tahiti were at war with each other. The ruins, known as marae, are available for site-seeing. For some photos and more history of Moorea check out our page on Polynesian History.

Manahi is an atoll north of Tahiti that has luxurious accomodations for the travel. Manihi also has thriving pearl farms in the lagoon. Fortunately Manihi can be reached by an hour's plane ride; otherwise it would take a day by boat to get there.

This motu (small island) near Manihi is where Patrick, an independent pearl farmer lives. He built his house by hand.

Normally farmers sell their pearls to brokers who auction them off to big buyers in Papeete who export them and then sell them to distributors who then sell them to jewelers. But we buy pearls direct from farmers like Patrick and cut out all those middlemen. We even have our own jewelers fashion the pearls into beautiful jewelry.

Patrick and his assistant tending to the oysters.

Jeremiah and Natalie at the Lagoon.