The Coral Gardens
09 August 2020 | Tapuamu Bay, Tahaa, French Polynesia
Graham Walker
Today we moved from Hamaane Bay round to the west of Tahaa to snorkel on the Coral Gardens site. We enjoyed a gentle downwind motor-sail round the island and dropped the hook just off the reef near the site, just next to a classic ‘over the water’ Polynesian hut luxury hotel. We jumped in Guppy and headed into what looked like the snorkel site. It was OK, but we were surprised that it got such a big write up. Then we nipped round the corner to the next gap in the islands and found what we had really come to see – duh! There was a gap in between two small motus with a very good flow of clean ocean water flooding in - ideal conditions for corals. We swam and weaved for hundreds of meters through perfect corals and masses of fish, battling the current to get upstream and then drifting back. It was lovely to see corals so healthy and so varied again. Today’s picture is our first clown fish sighting.
In the late afternoon we headed away from the gusty reef to shelter in the lee of Tahaa, and found ourselves in company with SV Celtic Star and SV Saorsa. We have been on roughly the same track as both of these boats for a few days, so it’s a good opportunity for shared drinking, eating and mulling over plans.
Tomorrow we hope to head for the famous Bora Bora, which we can see just across the water. Something of an iconic South Pacific location. Hope it lives up to its reputation.