Snorkelling: Underwater magic

The best snorkelling in French Polynesia is on Bora Bora, mainly because the coral is in such great shape. Photo / Getty Images

We asked Travel readers to send us tips for their favourite South Pacific snorkelling spots. Here are a few of your top recommendations.

The western side of the Bora Bora's outer reef has amazing snorkelling.

Where the outer reef drops into the deep inner lagoon, manta rays feed from early morning on beautiful sheltered coral drop-offs. I used to head up there from where I anchored up delivery boats in the southwestern corner. Be there by 8am-8:30am and swim with them for about three hours. About three days in on my visits the largest manta would allow me to hang on, and once he diverted to the deeper area and swam me through a large school of spotted eagle rays. He would always somehow know when I needed to breath and take me to the surface. Magic.

Rangiroa, one of the largest atolls in the world and the second-to-last northern atoll in the Tuamotus group east of the Tahiti Islands, has a drift dive through the pass where sharks park up to sleep and be cleaned, and that is an absolute trip. The atoll above, Manihi, was said by Jacques Cousteau, to be the best coral dive in the world and is stunning.

Mark Trimble

*****

At Uepi Island, in the Solomon Islands, you'll find the most amazing fish life. There are many different areas to check out around Marovo Lagoon and the coral is in great shape. You can feed the reef sharks, too. Getting there can be tricky, but the Solomons are worth the effort.

D. Franklin

*****

Hi team,

My wife and I are keen "holiday" snorkellers. In our 50s we are conscious of our limitations when it comes to currents, etc. Without a doubt our best spot is the Botaira Resort in the Yasawas, Fiji. This is a child-free resort (very basic) about three hours from Nadi by fast ferry, with only 12 bures.

It is set in a fairly small bay with access out to the wonderful coral by an underwater concrete walkway. This also serves as access to and from the ferry - there is no jetty and it saves the coral from those who are not so confident and from general traffic.

Seventy-five per cent of the bures are on the beachfront, so access is easy and immediate.

The resort also provides drift snorkelling further around the coast.

We are off to New Caledonia in 10 days' time and have our spots already picked out.

And the worst spot: Vietnam. I spent all my time collecting rubbish from the murky water and still have not seen any coral.

Mark Macdonald, Hamilton

*****

The best snorkelling in French Polynesia is on Bora Bora, mainly because the coral is in such great shape. In Fiji, a day trip to Mana Island is terrific and you can get great snorkelling from the shore of most resorts which is hard to beat if it's convenience you're after.

C. Dale