My spouse and I have about 9 days post cruise on the Paul Gaughin to "hang out". After much research, I think I have narrowed it down to the Kia Oro on Rangiroa and/or the Manini Pearl. My husband scubas, I snorkel. I welcome any advice feedback. I have e-mailed each hotel, but the info provided was not any more than the respective websites. My husband seems to have his heart set on an OWB and I have convinced him that if Kia Oro is in our future, we have to spend a night or two at the Sauvage. TIA - Beachseeker

PS: 1st time user, I think I posted this to the Australia forum by mistake.

We just returned from the Manihi Pearl last month and I wrote a review of the resort on another travel site. If you're interested I could e-mail the review, along with a link to our photos.
[email protected]

Beachseeker,

I just returned from a stay at Kia Ora and highly recommend that you spend a couple of days at Sauvage. It was simply the most amazing travel experience I have ever had. We had the good fortune of being alone, as in the only guests, our first two days on the island. Since we were alone, Bernard, the caretaker, and his family invited us to join them for Christmas dinner. Sublime! I cannot recommend it enough.

Beachseeker: Your instincts have led you to a wonderful place. Kia Ora OWB on Rangiroa and a couple days on Sauvage would be an excellent choice. Diving is world class on Rangi. My wife and I do not dive, but are avid snorkelers. We had the snorkel of our life "shooting the pass" with Cosetta and Pascal. Two excursions, about 6 "shoots". I can tell you that a marine biologist, unable to dive due to imminent flight departure, "shot the pass" and was as "excited as on my first dive." (his words) He had been diving outside the lagoon for a week.
The process is Cosetta and Pascal take you to the open ocean end of the inlet into the lagoon while the tide is coming in. then you get in the water and float (Sail) into the lagoon on the current (about 4-6 knots). It is awesome and exciting and exhilarating.
http://www.snorkeling.pf/page%20choix%20usa.htm
Pascal drives the boat, and Cosetta is your guide. Wonderful people, very passionate about their little island and they can also show you dolphins.
We loved our stay on Rangi, and our two nights at the sauvage. Incredible. I hope you do it, and enjoy it as much as we did.
I would love to answer any questions you may have.

PS: this is the right forum. It's Australia and South Pacific.

I can't speak to your choices of accommodations, as we stayed in humbler pensions. I've been to both the KIa Ora and Manini Pearl, and both seem to be fantastic resorts.

As for diving, you just need to know that most Rangi dive sites are not for the inexperienced or faint-of-heart. Riding those pass currents as a surface snorkeler are indeed exhilirating as Bill J notes; but those same currents can be treacherous at depth. As long as you are a confident diver who has some drift-diving experience you will be OK, but this might not be the place to first learn drift diving.