Fakarava  nature reserve

Almost rectangular in shape, it is the second largest atoll in the Tuamotu group. 37 miles long by 15 miles wide, Fakarava is a UNESCO classified nature reserve. Especially rare flora and fauna and marine crustaceans are testimony to the richness of its ecosystem. Among the things to be explored here are a visit to a pearl farm, a visit to the sea slug smoke house - the "rori" are highly priced by Asian gourmets, and the ancient village of Tetamanu with one of the first Catholic churches built of coral and dating from 1874. The real attraction is the immense lagoon, which provides scuba divers with virtually untouched spots offering endless discoveries