French Polynesia - Day 3 - BORA BORA!!!

At last....Bora Bora.  And it did not disappoint.  We went on a private tour booked through Raanui Tours (a local family-owned business).  We tendered to the port and were met by our guide Tutty (like King Tut not tootie) who took us on his boat and showed us the whole coast of the island via the lagoon area, as well as the reef islands (atolls & motus).  We swam with black tip reef sharks (up to 4 feet long) and big lemon sharks (up to 6 feet long).  We also got to get up close and swim with stingrays and lots of tropical fish.  We snorkeled at the Coral Garden.  Tutty was fun and definitely used to the surroundings as the sea creatures seemed to know him.  He prepared coconut cake, brought coconuts & grapefruit from his yard for us to snack on.  It was FABULOUS!!!  The water here is UNBELIEVABLE!!!  It's absolutely clear. Tutty sat on the bottom about 45 feet deep and you could see him so clearly. Different shades of blue depending on how shallow the lagoon was.  When you see pictures of Bora Bora, it's easy to assume they've been photo shopped.  NO!!!!  It's REAL!!!!!!  Definitely coming back to this paradise.  The pics below may be overkill with the water and the sharks but HEY, you had to be there.  Enjoy!!!!  

Good morning BORA BORA!!!!!

Leaving on our lagoon adventure!

Cyclone-ravaged old Club Med Resort. 

The sharks welcome us to our first stop.

Swimming with the sharks!!

They just swam around us but quite close (like a couple of feet away).  Amazingly, it was not scary.

Lemon Shark arrived (much bigger)

Tutty blowing rings for us.

Blue eyed Tutty

Some of these types of resorts (and there are many) have their own personal fresh water infinity pools attached.  Gimme a break, people.  ahahaha

Someone has the privilege of living here.

This is one of Tutty's friends who just happened to be kayaking,

He's riding the waves left by our boat.

You'd think they'd mistake our dangling feet for fish.  I did see them eat fish while swimming with us.

Showing us the stingrays up close.  They feel like wet velvet (kind of slimey, but not at the same time)

Interesting shapes underwater with the current and sunlight.

It was soooo clear!

So do we!!!!!!

Tutty's snacks for us.

Another tour guide on a different boat.  

We used him for shark bait.  ahaha

Getting dropped off at Matira Beach.  Goodbye Tutty.

Having lunch on Matira Beach (Tutty lives on this beach).

Leaving Bora Bora on the Tender back to the ship

That's Kelly waving at me while I take photos of our ship.  She and her husband Bruce live in Port Coquitlam.  We've become buddies.

Sunset from our balcony.