|
Like all Islands in French Polynesia, the dual Islands of HUAHINE-ITI & HUAHINE-NUI are a water lovers paradise!Surrounded by a pristine tropical ocean and a wonderful lagoon, a great many watersports are available for your enjoyment. TST makes choosing your favorite island activity on Huahine easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out our other "To Do" pages: ADVENTURES, ISLAND FUN, RELAXATION, RECREATION & GAMES, or SHOPPING,
SERVICES, & RESTAURANTS.
|
Scuba Diving
Mahana Dive CenterPACIFIC BLUE ADVENTURE (DIVE CENTER) | HEREMITI DIVE |
Snorkeling
Snorkeling
is possibly the overall favorite activity of all visitors arriving to French Polynesia. This activity is not only relaxing, but also
exciting at the same time!
Just about every place you
can dive, you can also snorkel, but without the burden of scuba equipment. It's a wonderful feeling of freedom.
No wetsuits, no tanks, no weightbelts.
The waters of Huahine are crystal clear and warm. The marine life is abundant and interesting. The lagoons' waters are excellent
for snorkeling because of the amazing combination of clear visibility and generally
calm conditions.
Many of the hotels and pensions on Huahine will
furnish you with snorkeling gear if you ask. (Some will charge a small fee for
the equipment.)
Also, the majority of boat charters
and sailing vessels you can charter will also be able to furnish you with
snorkeling equipment.
The Huahine Islands, along with most of the other Society Islands, are a snorkeler's "wet dream".
TST Tip: Snorkeling |
Surfing
Huahine has a reputation in the world as being one of Tahiti's surfing hotspots. That's because it is... Next to Tahiti, this island gets more surfers than any other island in French Polynesia. The reason for this is the waves and swell here is large, consistant, and simply awesome!
See our selection of ACTION SURF SHOTS ON HUAHINE, shot one overcast day way back in June 2002! (but just as good now as back then...)
As it so happens, Huahine also seems to
suffer from a mild case of "surf rage"- that weird yet not uncommon
surf phenomenon of locals not welcoming foreign surfers to "their waves"... As any seasoned surfer knows, this isn't the only island in the world where this occurs, but if you're not ready for it, (or you go into the waves with a cocky attitude), you might be in for a nasty surprise on this island.
Note: These guys take it seriously, so don't underestimate their jealousy or aggressiveness!... (there are
some pretty gnarly stories on this subject best left untold...)
The best local surfers on Huahine are known as "Black shorts", (it's the same on Raiatea), and are true to their sport. They will surf with you only after you have proven
yourself to be their friends and loyal to the surf. (This often involves
consuming copious amounts of drink at the local bars with them and much
banter, handshaking, chest pounding, "surftalking", etc.)
After conferring
with the locals on our last trip, the TST network has decided to publish only this general information regarding surfing Huahine: As with
all other surfing "hotspots" on the Tahitian islands, the best breaks on Huahine are located at the passes between the lagoon and the open ocean.
For now, our best advice to the avid surfer
looking for the surfing hotspots on Huahine is to get here and start talking
about surfing. Do this by meeting the locals on land if you can, and keep a good, unselfish spirit about yourself... you'll most likely end up making friends if you have a cool attitude. As any experienced surfer will
surely understand, this is the only true way to discover the best surf hotspots.
TST Tip: Make Surfing Friends |
Jetskiing/ Waverunners
A fast, wet, and great way to experience the beautiful lagoon of Huahine island.
There a few outfitters on the island that can arrange an unforgettable day of jetski or waverunner fun:
HUAHINE NAUTIQUE |
Windsurfing
Most tourists and travelers who have never been to the Tahitian islands tend to think windsurfing is a really big activity in
French Polynesia. Surely, they think, the chrystal blue waters and strong tradewinds
would make for world class windsurfing possibilities?
It's true the winds and conditions are great, but interestingly, finding a good place to rent a windsurfer is more difficult than you might imagine...
Although some locals on Huahine are quite active in the sport, there is only one place on the island that rents them out to visitors. (see the listing below)
On the other Society Islands, you may not be able to find ANY place to rent windsurfing
equipment. The main reason for this is twofold:
1) All the Tahitian islands have numerous, strong, and unpredictable currents inside
their lagoons as well as the open ocean.
2) There are a lot of beginners and non-experienced people thinking that windsurfing
is easy to do (not true) and would be a great way to spend the day (true)...
BUT- apparently it's the COMBINATION of beginners learning how to ride and the
unpredictable currents that make for a recipe most hotels and businesses don't
want to deal with. High insurance rates and potential lawsuits make it problematic
to the point that it's not worth it.
Many more hotels and pensions USED to rent
boards and sails in their past, but have slowly fazed out windsurfing as a rental
activity.
All that said, IF YOU KNOW HOW TO WINDSURF, and have your own equipment, don't let any of the above information stop you from bringing
your setup... The overall wind conditions on Huahine ARE excellent.
The following place IS the place to rent a windsurfing setup on Huahine:
MARA'AMU WATERSPORT ACTIVITIES |
Kayaking
This is a really fun way to enjoy the clear warm waters of the lagoon! 
The neat thing about these kinds of kayaks is you can get as serious as you want about either excercising OR having fun... the choice is yours: paddle hard and get a killer shoulders and arm workout, or paddle easy and just check out the amazing scenery.
Huahine Lagoon rents them by the hour, day, or week.
HUAHINE LAGOON
B.P.281, Fare- HUAHINE, (Located at the Fare Wharf)
Telephone/ fax- (689) 68.87.57 (home),
or Telephone/ fax (work)- (689)68.70.00
Try a KAYAK for a fun day of exercise or exploration of the Huahine lagoon! Rent by the hour, day, or week...
We also rent BICYCLES and MOTORIZED BOATS... (no special licenses required)
Swimming (Lagoon)
Swimming
in the Huahine lagoon is certainly one of the easiest, cheapest, safest, and most popular activities available to all visitors of all ages. The
waters are warm and clear and inviting. Most people simply wander out from the shoreline and get their shorts wet, but if you have access to a boat, you can
get closer to the reefs faster for snorkeling opportunities, if you desire.
The one thing that's worth noting about swimming the lagoon is the currents. If
you're a big time swimmer and you go for distance, the farther away you get from the shoreline, the more possibility you have of encountering a strong current.
Some of these can be VERY strong, so be aware and prepared. Ask locals about the currents if you can...
Other than the currents, there are no other worries. There is no shark problem (in fact, no human related
swimming shark encounters on record in the history of the lagoon), or other nasty sea creatures (with the exception of the occasional jellyfish), to
deal with.
Sailing
The exceptional sailing in Tahiti Polynesia is legendary. Huahine offers sailors and yachtsmen wonderful places to explore.
Although not quite as sail friendly as the Raiatea and Tahaa lagoon, (due to slightly trickier and less numerous
passes), this island is certainly a world class sailing destination...
There is SO much information about the sailing opportunities on and around Huahine that we refer you to our: Special SAILING, CHARTER BOAT & MARINE section for details.
Huahine also has a special treat not easy to find on the other islands: Hobie Cat Rentals!
MARA'AMU WATERSPORT ACTIVITIES
BP 477 Parea - 98731 HUAHINE
Telephone/ fax- (689) 68 77 10 or Cellphone- (689) 78 90 69
Take a Hobie Cat Sailboat tour of Huahine with us or rent one and discover the island on your own. (sailing experience is necessary). Turquise waters, steady
winds, and surrounded by beauty on all sides.
Sailing classes available. Rentals by the hour, half, or full day on Hobie 18
ft. Catamarans.
Kitesurfing (Flysurfing)
This is the hottest sport to hit any beach in
years!
It's called kitesurfing, kiteboarding, or Flysurfing to the French, and
it's absolutely WILD!
Huahine is an amazing spot to kiteboard and if
you take your kites to the island you won't have any kite traffic.
There's only
about 4 or 5 regular kiters on the island!
MARA'AMU WATERSPORT ACTIVITIES |
For more information on kiting in French Polynesia, check out TST's KiteTahiti website.
Watersports on the Other Islands of
An Internetwork of Travel and Tourism Guides
for the Main Islands of Tahiti Polynesia
MEMBERS QUICK REFERENCE & COUPON FINDER
TST BUSINESS CENTRAL: NETWORK, LINKS, AD RATES, & MORE
CONTACT | ABOUT US | DISCLAIMER
 |
Check out our online store for the most interesting Polynesian products on the planet.  |
Ask questions, get advice, meet people, be crazy! It's fun, easy, and informative!  |
 |
 |
