Diving the Passes of French Polynesia: Tiputa, Garuae and Tumakohua

On arrival into Papeete, you'll be greeted warmly and driven down to the dock to catch a 45-minute ferry over to Moorea. Let the sun warm your skin and enjoy the breeze on this catamaran as you approach the beautifully rugged island of Moorea with its jagged mountains and soft sandy beaches. You'll be whisked away in a private car for a 30-minute drive around the edge of the island towards your hotel, located within a tropical garden along the edge of the lagoon. As you settle into your beach bungalow, listen out for the songs of the Birds of Paradise. Settle in; you've arrived to a secluded garden of Eden where beauty abounds above and below the surface.

Over the next two days, enjoy dives in the crystal-clear, coral-filled waters that surround Moorea. Tiki Point is a clear favourite, heaving with marine life, including lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks and grey sharks. Located nearby, is Aito, a site for drift dive enthusiasts and turtle lovers. With stunning flora and fauna and the presence of the emperor angel fish, it's the perfect second dive after Tiki Point.

Another fast-paced drift dive not to be missed is the Corridor Drift. With clear waters and the ability to drift for one-and-a-half to two miles through the lagoon channel, you'll be sure to see schools of eagle rays and whitetip sharks exploring the coral covered walls and reef caves.

For the advanced divers, make sure to check out the Rose Garden. Located off the North Coast of the island, this site promises incredible coral topography and, if you can drag your gaze from the coral, you'll notice the shark infested waters surrounding.

Wake up slowly, laze on the sugar-soft sand beach and let the sun warm your skin as you get stuck into your holiday read while sipping on a jus de painapo - this day is yours to enjoy however you see fit. Perhaps you'll take a glass bottomed kayak around for a tour of the lagoon or lace up your boots for a hike on any of the 15 nearby trails - we love the Col des Trois Cocotiers (Three Coconuts Trails). Let yourself be enveloped by the nature that surrounds you as you listen to the soothing soundtrack of birdsong and enjoy your meals under the stars.

Bid a fond farewell to Moorea as you're driven back to the port to take the catamaran ferry back to Papeete. From Papeete's dock, you'll be driven back to the airport for a one-hour flight to Rangiroa. On arrival, you'll be driven the two-minute drive to your home for the next five nights. On the edge of the lagoon, just minutes from the main village, your coral reef view bungalow is the perfect bare-foot luxury location to return to after exploring the magic below the surface.

Get ready to dive with 'the big stuff'. Tiputa Pass promises encounters with a variety of pelagics including manta rays, grey reef sharks, lemon sharks, leopard sharks and - if you're lucky - hammerheads. And it's not just one lone shark that you'll see; you can swim with 100 at a time. Alongside all the big boys, you'll also find barracudas, napoleon groupers and dolphins.

The Avatoru Pass is situated on a coral plateau and beckons with gin-clear waters teeming with life. With five dive spots in this area, you'll enjoy a day of darting in and out of the sun-kissed waters. Swim with the majestic silvertip shark as you watch them hunt schools of fish including the bigeye and African pompano jackfish.

As you cruise back to the shore in the RIB, soak in the awesome sight of dolphins leaping around you. It doesn't get much better than this.

Enjoy a day of leisure, filled with any number of activities that you choose. Perhaps this is a day to wander into the nearby village and pick up some local crafts or pearls (the region is famed for them) or tour a local pearl farm. For the wine lovers, enjoy some time in the wine cellar before sipping on a few glasses overlooking the lagoon.

Enjoy a slow breakfast before being transferred back to the airport to catch your flight to Fakarava. The flight takes around 45 minutes and once you've arrived on the airstrip, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel by car and boat, which takes around an hour and a half, depending on sea conditions. Arrive at your final stop, a picture-perfect bungalow surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.

Get ready to dive with over a thousand species of fish, rays and sharks in Fakarava's UNESCO biosphere reserve. Renowned for its impeccably preserved coral reefs, Fakarava is a true gem of the Tuamotu Islands. Within the waters, you'll glide with rare species such as hawksbill sea turtles, unicorn fish and coconut crabs.

Now that the waters have been explored, allow your tired body to be pampered with your pick of indulgent treatments at the onsite spa. Whether you want to spend the morning in the gym, pool or beneath the shade of a palm tree, your hotel is set up for some serious rest and relaxation.

Today, you'll be chauffeured by car and boat from North Fakarava to the serene landscapes of South Fakarava. It's a seriously scenic journey, so relax on the sun-drenched decks and savour the views across the turquoise waters. When you arrive, check into your bungalow and embrace the laid-back atmosphere that surrounds you.

Wake up to the gentle lapping of waves and the sun poking through the coconut blinds of your lagoon front bungalow. For your final day in this tropical paradise snorkel in the pristine waters, opt for a leisurely bike ride around the narrow island and make use of the kayaks which are yours to use at leisure. And when the waters and land have been explored and adored, it's time to fill in your dive diary and take those last snaps of this tropical heaven.

Sadly, today marks the end of your French Polynesia diving holiday and it's time to head back home. You'll be transferred back to the airport in the afternoon, in good time to catch your domestic flight back to Papeete, which takes just over an hour. Steal those last glances of this paradise and hold onto the pearls that you bought as a souvenir.