Avatoru, Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia
2018 HAL World Cruise
Friday, January 26, 2018
Upon arriving in the Rangiroa Lagoon, we awoke to see dolphins playing outside our window! What a wonderful way to start the day. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get the camera fast enough to record the event. It would have been a glorious picture!
Sailing into Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia.
The Islands of Rangiroa appear to form a pearl necklace atop the Pacific Ocean. We entered the lagoon thru the Tiputa cut just east of Avatoru. And we actually tendered to Ohotu, a small village nearby. A Wind Star ship, Wind Sprit, shared the anchorage with us.
Blue Lagoon, to the west, is considered one of the best diving destinations in the world. A highlight for divers, snorkelers and even glass-bottomed boats is to “shoot the pass”. This is when a rush of water between the ocean and lagoon carries you through the cut surrounded by seemingly millions of fish.
The string of Islands that form Rangiroa look like a pearl necklace lying atop the ocean. Blue Lagoon is one of the highest rated diving spots in the world.
We had a lovely day in Rangiroa.
Music and dancing at the tender dock.Dancers try to teach the visitors how to move their hips!Trying to get WiFi in a local cafe.Vendors on the dock and swimmers in the sea.The MS Amsterdam at anchor in Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia.Wind Star’s Wind Spirit anchored with us.Shopping is, immediately, available as we exit the tender!A walk along the sea edge.Walking along the sea edge with the palms blowing in the wind, surf lapping at the shore, and clear water sparkling is just beautiful!Just look at that water!The tender coming in from the Wind Spirit. Notice the outrigger getting ready to wake surf.We had 4 tenders operating.The Wind Spirit pulling in the last tender, raising the sails and getting ready to depart.The sailaway from Rangiroa Lagoon.Transiting the Tiputa Cut.Locals waving us off.And now entering the Pacific once again.
Next stop: Papeete, Tahiti in the Society Islands.
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