Polynesian Adventure, Day 11

 March 10th, Sunday, sunny with scattered clouds; surprise... the ocean was blue.

It was a tranquil night with a gentle rolling ship that rocked us to sleep.  We arrived at Rangiroa about noon, after a slow morning.  I got up a bit early to write some emails (it is my brother Paul's birthday today) and finish the blog from yesterday.  I also tried out the exercise room.  I rode the stationary bicycle for 20 minutes and then completed some free weight training.  The fitness room is small with 3 bikes, 3 treadmills, 2 ellipticals, a bench press, two leg machines and a rack of free weights (dumbbells).  I joined the others for breakfast.  (Betsy also tried out the exercise room later, so we both got some muscle action today.)

From breakfast, we walked up to the 9th deck to watch the arrival at Rangiroa.  The big event was passing through Tiputa Pass, a break in the coral reef.  Rangiroa is a coral atoll, which means it has an enclosed lagoon and no central island.  If you look at a map , it is a long ring of barrier islands with numerous breaks.  The ship approached Tiputa Pass and, because a dive boat was in the channel (and not responding to the ship's warning), made a 360 loop before entering.  This  'go-round' gave a chance for us to spot sharks and dolphins that hang out in or near the pass.  The currents are swift and sharks can rest/sleep in the current - sharks must have water passing over their gills at all times so they generally are always swimming.  I did not see any sharks, but almost everyone saw a couple of dolphins (I did not try to photograph them - too quick and too far away).  I also saw a flying fish.

  

Two screen shots showing our approach to the Tiputa Pass, the red waypoint (tear drop).  The ship is the blue.

LS and SS on the top deck (9th)

The passage into the lagoon.

Inside the pass.

After the pass passage, we gathered for lunch in separate groups and got prepared for the afternoon excursions.  BS was scheduled for a scuba dive.  The rest of us rode the tender to shore for an hour-long ride in a glass-bottom boat.  It was not what I would call thrilling, but we saw a variety of fish, and the mate dove under the boat, sometimes with food, and the fish, primarily snapper, went into a frenzy.  He even held a piece of bread in his mouth and the yellow butterfly fish took bites from it.

EP, LS and SS on the glass bottom boat.

Red snapper

Feeding frenzy beside the boat.

After the boat ride, EP and I wandered down the Boulevard Principal for about 1/2 mile.  It was hot and windless, and there were surprisingly many cars and even one bus (which I think came from the airport).  The airport is located on one section of the atoll and I see no other roads on any other parts of the island.

A pig guarded by several dogs.

We walked across the island and for the first time on this trip got close to the ocean outside of the reef.  This photo shows the coral beach front. with much more wave action,

 Local kids surfing the waves among the rocks.  The waves are only a few feet high.

Normal evening routine - gather at the piano bar for drinks and canapés, then into L'Etoile for fine dining, and then early to bed (we passed up the Elvis Presley floor show).  We are getting to know the wait staff, since LS attracts many admirers.  We even have our own table - #9.  And the menu changes every night, so we have plenty of choices.