After enjoying Makemo for a few days we moved on to Tahanea.
Tahanea is uninhabited for the most part. There is no permanent village, only a few camps that are used when people come to harvest coconuts. The water inside the atoll is amazingly clear and unlike Makemo there are only a few coral heads to avoid.
Anchorage just inside the pass:
We use fenders to suspend our anchor chain which keeps it from getting tangled on the low lying coral heads:
Dea Latis anchored at the very east end of the atoll:
The water is so clear, that is about 20 feet deep:
This is about 40 to 50 feet deep, and much more clear in person:
All sails up crossing the lagoon:
We snorkeled quite a bit. This guy looks like he belongs on a playing card:
Grouper poking his head out:
…and then the sharks arrive which is when we usually finish up:
We eat really well when we are on the boat. Tuna steak, beans and rice. Mmmmm:
Sunrise back in the main anchorage:
We really enjoyed Tahanea!
After spending a few days in Tahanea we took the next weather window to Tahiti, which is where we are now. We have been here for almost three weeks fixing up the boat and enjoying civilization. After emptying our bank account it is time to move on! (You can not imagine how expensive it is here! The only thing reasonably priced is the marina berth, baguettes, and brie!) We are departing Papeete tomorrow morning. We plan to spend a few days in Moorea, we have reservations for dinner and a show, then we will jump up to Bora Bora and check-out of French Polynesia. Our “plan” is to stop at one of the Cook Islands, then on to Niue, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Australia. We have really enjoyed French Polynesia but it is time to move on!
We will update when we have internet!