June 6, 2015, Saturday, Rangirora, French Polynesia

Another beautiful day in paradise.  Sun, aqua waters, coral atols and a small south sea island in Polynesia.  We once again went snorkling.

  The boat was right at the dock where the ten minute tender dropped us off.  I took a sea sick pill because the tender looked pretty rocky when I watched it from the top deck, but it was fine.

Our boat took us a short distance away to a spot where several boats were moored.  We were offered snorkels and fins and a snorkel guide who had a raft and took us around the coral "aquarium" area.  It was deeper than other areas where we have been.  

Besides many beautiful fish, we saw white tipped sharks.  They are large and tended to swim on the bottom.  They may have been sleeping.  

Eel

Another eel

We saw two large eels who came out of a hole, and even swam around.  Their top fin ripples in the water and they are very graceful, large, and dark.  

We saw a trigger fish who was blue colors, a very colorful striped fish we haven't seen before, and many beautiful specimens of ones we have already seen.  Once again, I could have stayed in the 90 degree water for another hour.

A new fish we saw

A group of fish

The pipe fish again or trumpet fish

My favorite blue fish who seem to love the brain coral

Another fish was at the surface and hard to photograph, of what we thought was a unicorn fish because it had a long thing on the top of his head that pointed straight ahead.

Always a favorite, the moorish idol I believe

We decided to find the beach near the dock and swim, but we misunderstood the directions and just walked down the main little road past a store where some young men were meeting some young women.  One had on a paddling shirt.  I asked him if he paddled, and told him we paddled.  He laughed.  This was in sign language, because they speak French.  I think he thought we were joking about paddling or thought it was a joke for people our age to paddle.  There were three girls playing jump rope and a family sellling coconuts to drink.  We had them open them afterwards so we could enjoy the meat.

Finding shells

My purple shells.  I have them now encased in glass on a koa stand.

We walked to the other side of the island and watched a raft ride the fast current between a channel.  Then we found an alley and walked to the beach and I found some pretty purple shells.  I bought another black pearl from the stalls by the pier for $20 before returning to the ship.  This port is so small there was no shuttle, probably because there was no place to go, really.  Doug and Cathy rented bikes.

Jump rope

Beautiful flowers by the road.

Sail away Rangiroa

Rangiroa, a string of coral encircling a luminous turquoise and jade-green  is one of the world's greatest dive destinations.  It is the biggest atol in French Polynesia.  Black pearl cultivation is a major industry.  We cancelled the pearl farm tour for snorkling, however.  We came in 2nd in trivia.  Dennis and Barb did not do anything on shore.  they said they were islanded out.  Oh my gosh, I could cruise these islands forever.  We looked in the tropical fish book to find the names of some of the fish we have seen.  I think I might like to learn more about the fish and snorkel more with some knowledge.  For example, the way the fish swims is important, and the shape of the fins as well as the coloration.  Right now I look at the beautiful colors.  I am starting to see the different mouth shapes and body shapes, but it could be a very interesting subject to learn.

We have one more day in paradise before four days at sea on our way to Hawaii.