Day Seven, July 21: Motu Taurere, swim with the Giant Mantas, Bora Bora
Unmooring at first light in front of Motu Toopua, we cruised around Bora Bora's lagoon.
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The western side of the lagoon is deep with blue water. We had heard that Bora Bora's lagoon was one of the most beautiful in the world, so we were a little disappointed at seeing the homogenous blue of Vaitape Bay. However Bora Bora showed her true colors as we cruised around the north end of the island and came down the eastern half of the lagoon along a shallow 6 ft sandy shelf just inside of the reef. The varied hues of the water here with the iconic image of Bora Bora visible across the lagoon gave a truely breathtaking view.
Anchoring off Motu Tupe, we visited The Lagoonarium, an artificial enclosure containing about a dozen large lemon sharks. For a fee, one can swim in the shallow enclosure with them. The fee was a bit steep for us so we took our dingy back to the boat for lunch.
Motu Tupe and the Lagoonarium
Listen carefully to the video clip below at the very beginning. You'll hear Shelby calling to the rest of us to come see the mantas that David had spotted. It was an incredible moment: massive, gentle creatures gliding effortlessly through the deep, allowing us to visit them. Shelby dove so deep so many times that he made himself sick! But I think we all agree that it was worth it. - Cathy
We had read that Manta Rays commonly cruise the lagoon waters of just across from our anchorge at Motu Tupe. We took the dingy and anchored at the shoal just across the lagoon. There was deeper water off the shoal forming a channel completely encrusted with coral. After ten miniutes of snorkling, we began to see the dim shapes of these giants slowly gliding underneath us along the channel.
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Anna Catherine and Cathy
Shelby, about 20+ft. The above videos are his.
Meredith
After our encounter with the Mantas, we proceeded to the southeastern tip of the lagoon and anchored for the night off Motu Taurere
Views of Bora Bora from our anchorage at Motu Taurere
I'm not sure if he didn't see me or feel my hand, but I ran my fingers all the way down his back as he swam under me....so magical
- Meredith