Still on Rangiroa

Monday 14th April


Yesterday, Sunday, I went diving with Shin under and around the boat. As I hadn't dived since Christmas I felt a bit rusty initially, but then all was OK. There is mainly coral sand on the sea bed, but also outcrops of coral growing towards the surface. These are called bomi I believe. Some fish, including a flat fish much prized in Japan for its flavour. Shin told me the Japanese name but it meant nothing to me. There were a lot of bottles on the seabed, all empty, including one like a flagon. Presumably thrown over by yachties. The bomis can easily catch you out when sailing as the depth sounder won't tell you about it until after you have hit it! Not nice.

In the late afternoon we walked over to the pass we came through. The tide was ebbing and there were standing waves where the tide met the swell coming in. You do need to get your timing right when going through the passes on these atolls. In the middle of the wave there were dolphins having a ball jumping clear of the water, maybe 2 metres clear for the adults. Some of the small ones struggled to get clear of the water. Many pictures were taken.

Last night we called into the hotel bar, to be told to go away as we were not wearing collars on our T shirts. I suppose that when the cheapest room rate is 268 euros per night (breakfast extra), the guests may well expect some standards.

Today was hot, as normal, and we all piled into a taxi to vist Rangiroa City! This is otherwise known as Avaturo. There is a bank, a post office, shops & cafe/restaurants. We did some shopping and had lunch in a restaurant. Not a very good place - all dry & dusty which turns to mud in the rain. The taxi was 12 euros one way for a 4 mile trip and an extra 4 euro return with the shopping. We are all getting fed up with the prices, and the OK attitude to tourists. Not unfriendly but not exactly welcoming either. Val found fresh veggies in the shop and I loaded up another box full of Sprite. Very welcome out of the fridge on a warm evening. Also some salt & vinegar crisps, good way of getting salt back in. Joy of joys, there was soya milk again. 4 boxes quickly vanished into the trolley. Val & I have just had a tea with milk for the first time in weeks.

Tomorrow we hope to go diving with the hotel dive shop, credit card means the hotel is paid commission, cash means discount! The dive is in the pass and you just drift with the flow. There should be dolphins and sharks as well as colourful fish.

The watermaker is working again! So lots of water being made to top us up for the rest of the week and the overnight trip to Tahiti. We are booked into a marina there for about 10 days. What bliss. No rolling around or worrying is the anchor holding. The answer to the latter is yes so far. Thank you Paddy Boyd!