French Polynesia 2018: May 27, 2018-Half day excursion Pure Snorkeling/Reef Discovery, beach time, dinner at Bora Bora Yacht Club

Another day in paradise. Up early and at breakfast by 7:15 AM. This morning we have live music. There are guys playing the guitar and singing. Very nice. Richard is happy. There's poisson cru at the buffet. Also his plate of vegetables. Don't know what I had as I forgot to take a picture. I'm sure it was fruit and some sort of egg. The resort has planned activities so I take some pictures of what is currently happening. The beach looks nice-all raked. Richard goes back to our bungalow to get our snorkel gear.

Playing the guitar and singing during breakfast

There will be a demonstration on making poisson cru today

Richard bringing our snorkel gear to the dock

Beach is looking good

Walk way to our dock

Today is our first pre booked excursion on Bora Bora. It is with Pure Snorkeling/Reef Discovery. Good reviews on Trip Advisor. www.puresnorkeling.com Cost 22500 XPF/$$226.44 for the 2 of us. Pick up at the resort's dock at 8:20 AM. It's a fast speed boat. William is our captain/guide. There are 7 of us today. I'm excited but also nervous as I don't feel comfortable in water over my head. We have drinks-fruit juices, water. Our first stop is Coral Gardens-to see the coral. Richard tells me the current is strong so I decide to skip this stop. I actually got into the water wearing a life vest but it starts to ride up on me right to my neck and I freaked out. I get back on the boat. This is a drift snorkel. From the boat I see William talking to the group. He comes back to the boat and says we are going to move to where we will pick up the group. He asks if I want to try again but I'm still anxious. They are back to the boat by 9:45 AM. Richard said he saw lots of clams-many different colors. Our second stop is where Richard went diving-Anau. This is where you may spot mantas. William doesn't want me to miss out so he gives me a half circle float ring that fits around my stomach. He also is going to lead me around by holding on to his hand. Ok. I'll try. OMG. This is great! Since I'm with William I spot all the good stuff first. A group of 3 mantas swimming. Another group of 2 that you can barely see as the visibility isn't that great. Then the huge manta lying on the bottom. William said it's almost 3 meters! Easy to see. William has given me confidence by being so patient with me. He takes Richard's scuba camera and free dives down to get some pictures of the big manta. How sweet. Richard sees his dive boat from Eleuthera and hears the gang yelling happily about diving with the mantas. I feel bad for Richard but seeing them while snorkeling may not be as good as diving with them but it's better than nothing. Our third stop is to see the spotted eagle rays. Again I'm with William and there are so many of them. Groups of 2, 3, 5. Gracefully gliding along in the water. Hard to see the spots but they are definitely eagle rays. William hands me over to Richard while he tends to something else. I'm having so much fun. Our last stop is called the Aquarium-for the fish. This time I snorkeled with my float device by myself. With the current I've gone quite a bit away from the boat when Richard catches up with me. Together we head back to the boat enjoying all the fish we see. William shows me a starfish which I hold and then gently drop back into the water. This has been a fabulous day. We get dropped off first. I give William a very generous tip because of how he has been with me. He really made my day. We are back to our resort by 12:15 PM and spend the next few hours on the beach and in the water. Bliss!

Fast speed boat-small group

On our way!

Pass this large ship-Imagine

First stop is Coral Gardens where William is giving instructions to the group

Richard

Richard is happy

So pretty!

Motus

Lots of boats

Can barely see this big manta

This is what I see with William's help

William takes this picture for Richard

I just can't get over the amazing colors

Spotted eagle rays

William

I'm having a blast!

Starfish

We have been dropped off and the boat is speeding away 😢

Dinner-Bora Bora Yacht Club. We have opted for the 5:00 PM pick up for sunset. There is a special menu as it's Mother's Day here. The sunset is nice but clouds do roll in. We have a table by the railing so we have good views and can read the menu as it doesn't get dark until around 5:30 PM! Drinks-Bloody Mary for me and Richard just wants water. He's a tad disappointed as they are out of swordfish. 😞 Instead he goes for the scallops in persillade sauce, tomatoes and cauliflower, tagliatelle pasta. I play it safe with chicken breast with Oriental flavors, spices, couscous with raisins and black olives. There's a dish of coriander sauce on the side. I tried a piece of chicken in this sauce and I have to be honest. To me it tasted horrible so there it sat. The rest was all good though. Credit cards accepted. Cost without tip 8400 XPF/$82.60 Unfortunately even though the restaurant called for the taxi to return us to the hotel we had to wait almost an hour. I did buy some Tiare perfume. Cost 3000 XPF.