Hi,

Like you I have been in search of the ultimate paradise.  I'm still looking
since there's pros and cons to each tropical place I've been to (Maldives,
French Polynesia - Society and Tuomotu archipelago, Bali, Lombok, East Coast
Australia, Java, Malaysia and Sri Lanka).  Probably top of my list are the
Maldives and French Polynesia for different reasons.  I would also be keen
to hear whether anyone else has found paradise.

In my opinion ...

Bora Bora obviously caters well for tourists and its mountain provides a
striking contrast to the surrounding palm fringed beaches.  However, I
didn't think the beaches were particularly impressive when compared to some
of the other FP islands.
I thoroughly recommend Tikehau atoll in the Tuomotu chain for chilling out
Robinson Crusoe style. It isn't very wide, it's flat and covered in coconut
trees. The main motu on the atoll (where most people live) doesn't have a
brilliant lagoon side beach but you can hire a kayak and paddle to your own
uninhabited motu (tropical island) for the day.  Accommodation ranges from
full board homestays to one or two small hotels.  The homestays suited me.
It really is a lovely quiet place.  Snorkelling is limited from the beach
but if you like chilling out on your very own island and you don't need a 5*
hotel then this is the place to go. - There is little else to do on this
atoll, however the islanders do offer day trips to neighbouring motu.  One
trip took me to a snorkelling site in the lagoon.  The guide harpooned
parrot fish which we bbq-ed on an uninhabited island.  I went in August and
the weather was hot but not humid.

If you want luxury in a paradise environment then I've not found anything
better than Filitheyo island resort in the Maldives.  The downside is that
it can be expensive and you have to share the beach with other tourists.
You get enough space but you don't get your own beach.  The plus side is
that it will put your Bora experience to shame.  The beach and island are
extremely well kept (perhaps artificially so), no mossies, the food's great,
and the snorkelling the best I have ever come across by swimming out from a
beach.  The beach has a coral wall about 15m out which drops away to about
15m.  I spent hours drifting along the wall and saw all manner of fish.  The
island also offers lots of snorkelling trips to other excellent sites.  The
coral bleaching which affected most of the Maldives is slowly recovering and
there are signs of it whilst swimming out to the coral wall.  However,
around the wall the coral is good and the fish life amazing.  They even saw
a baby whale shark along the wall when I was there! (End Feb).

To summarise, if you want spoiling, you enjoy snorkelling and you'd like to
chill out on a lovely beach then Filitheyo would be my recommendation.  If
you want to go for isolation in a beautiful setting at low cost (once you
get there!) and you aren't too bothered about snorkelling then go to
Tikehau.

Cheers
Roy