Fakarava, the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls, is basically a very long stretch of land, almost rectangular 60km x 21km with one spectacular pass in the North and one at the most Southern tip. We reach this pretty spot after 41 hours of navigation. At this point I declare mutiny: there is no way that I will spend another day and night navigating, I’d rather jump ship. Our first stop near the “town” takes us near some absolutely gorgeous coral “patates”. What is especially striking, besides their shape, are the colours against the pristine waters and the beautiful sandy floor. Funnily, most of the fish here are white which makes the whole scene white on white very Miami 90s.
After some phone calls during which we are told that not of the diving outfits want to take children out into the pass for snorkelling we decide to “park” near one of the signal posts that seem to have boats with snorkelers come in off and on. Jackpot! This place is teeming with fish, most of them supersized 500% vs their relatives around Taha’a and co. Every time we go out, I am mesmerised by the experience of swimming in the middle of shoals of fish, blue, green, striped, shimmering, some of them a bit toothier than I would have preferred, and some with sharp fins, all of them beautiful. Nature just never seizes to amaze me. Thierry and I spend hours in the water, while the children have started to tire a bit of the snorkelling, Thierry and I can still get as excited as on day 1. We chase the black tip sharks, swim away from the white tips and the Nason Lancier still crack us up. We are “only” on the North part of the island, the Southern part is apparently even more spectacular, at least for divers, but by now I have reached my limit, I do not fare well on the open sea, there is no doubt and I refuse to budge. Which turns out to be not such a bad decision, as we quite enjoy paddle-boarding to the beach to do our (albeit very limited) veggie shopping , jumping off the boat right into a teeming aquarium and simply enjoying our last few days on the boat. The kids manage to convince Gérard to refresh his bracelet making talents with which he supplemented his early earnings, and so, decorated with sea shells on wrists and ankles the time has come to say goodbye. Sharing so many hours and proximity, Gérard and Jules have become almost family and the farewells are with a heavy heart. They will head on to a very long trip to the Marquises and we are off to New Zealand. We hope to cross paths again very soon!
Great to read your adventures guys!!! I hope to see you in Melbourne in a couple of weeks. Enjoy to the max and take care in these early days of 2020!! Ciao ciao. Pascal
Salut Pascal – that would be super super cool!! Bises.S.