Position: 16 degrees, 30 minutes south; 145 degrees, 27 minutes west (same atoll as yesterday- Fakarava)

WOW! UNBELIEVABLE!

Our private aquarium

Live coral. Just beautiful!

Fishies!

Standing in front of the dive shack at Fakarava

The dive shack and the pass we dove. Amazingly clear water.

Bob had prepped me for many of the things that we were to see on this great adventure. Some have happened – the green flash, the Milky Way, etc. Others have not happened – the sleigh-ride type of sailing across the Pacific (it was bumpy). But today he was spot on. The Tuamotus has incredible snorkeling!

After a good solid night’s sleep we were picked up by Lisa and John from Orcinius and proceeded back out to the start of the pass at low tide. Like we did in Tahanea, we jumped out of the dinghy and then floated with it as the tide came back in, snorkeling along-side. John had rigged their dinghy so that we had lines to hold onto which Lisa and I welcomed.

Fakarava is known for sharks. Lots of sharks, which they had seen when they dove the pass yesterday. We weren’t sure how many we would see when we were up higher snorkeling, but just in case we wanted to be able to quickly get to the dinghy.

The float through the pass was nice but not too eventful. Down deeper we did see some sharks but none that could be identified. The fun really started when we pulled out of the pass and over to the eastern coral reef.

It was INCREDIBLE! We really did swim / snorkel with sharks! Most were black-tipped reef sharks but there were a few others too. We snorkeled on this coral reef that had all of the wild tropical fish that you see in fish ID books. Stunning colors, huge schools of them, big ones that looked goofy and friendly, little bright blue tear drop shaped ones, and all the while, lots of reef sharks cruising through! Luckily, if you looked hard at them, they went the other way! Just unreal!

While Bob chased reef sharks around to film them I floated in schools of fish which slowly engulfed me. Colors,..amazing combinations with so many variations it was constant entertainment. We finally got out because our extremities were starting to lose feeling. And the reef sharks seemed to be multiplying. Actually some really did have babies with them. Others had the shark suckers we encountered in Raoria on them. And Bob got lots of them on film. Even the ones where he would gently push me towards them and say, “Go swim with them and I’ll get your picture!” Okay, so I did and he did!

We were all exhausted when we got out and tied the dinghy up at what looked like a bar. Turns out it was another Pension but Laurent, the guy working the place, was pleased to have us come up for a visit and the last three beers in his shop until Saturday when the supply ship comes in.

We had a very entertaining discussion; turns out he is actually from New Zealand and was full of very useful information. Not only that, but he speaks French, teaches it too, and was able to give Lisa and myself some great pointers. Including the exact language to say, “No, I don’t speak French. I only know a few words so please do not respond to me in French. Thank you.” He says it works for him with his German girlfriend’s acquaintances and should serve us well. Nice guy.

We also got to tour this end of the island and his Pension, complete with farm – vegetable garden, chickens and pigs. The island also included a very old church made of coral with a mother of pearl altar. Just stunning. (If this sounds fancy, it’s not. It’s all thatched huts with no windows or doors, just curtains. It looks like the set for Gilligan’s Island)

And to finish a fabulous day…the owner of the Pension on the other end of the island made pizza for the sailors who were interested. Most of the boats were in attendance along with the three Tahitians that were on vacation there. It was an evening full of great food in a beautiful setting with lots of fun people to talk to. We are told if you check out Fakarava.com you will see this Pension and know where we were.

Although exhausted, I need to end this blog and get out my Pacific Reef Fish book because we are going back for more tomorrow and I want to know what I’m looking at!