Tuamotus

The Tuamotus are atolls and are less than spectacular as you approach from sea.  The Tuamotus are about the water and the reefs. While anchoring at Ahe we warped our chaine around several different coral mounts. As the wind changed directions, from NE to SE during storms, it was like we were on a mooring ball. We purposely anchored in forty five feet of water so we could snorkel to clear any wraps as we were warned in the guid books. Another boat anchored in seventy plus feet and was having a much more difficult time. We were able to clear the problem after snorkeling down fifty feet to see that his trip line went in one side of the coral and the chain on the other.

We only visited two atolls in the Tuamotus, Ahe and Rangiroa. Ahe had the best snorkeling and Rangiroa had the best diving. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

                                                                        Ahe

                                                 A sunset on our way to Ahe

 

                                               

                                      A large coral patch coming back from a black pearl farm

                                    Drift snorkeling through the Ahe pass in 60 feet of water.

The giant clams are brown here, but come in the colors of the rainbow. They were awesome.




 Rangiroa

 
                                                         These formations were surreal.

                            Zoom in on the waves, they are the Pacific rollers that break on shore.

                                                  Feeding time, any volunteers?

Bad Internet in French Polynesia

We should be in Tahiti tomorrow and I hope we have better Internet there.  I have lots of pictures and a great movie of Polynesian dancers. My SPOT will not work for a while so please use the yellow brick from the word ARC to see where we are. More when I get a faster connection.

On our way to Aha in the Tuamotus

We are leaving this afternoon for Aha in the Tuamotus.  3 to 4 day sail. I don't know if we will have Internet.