Avatoura, Rangiroa

  Moorea was our last stop in the group known as the Society Islands. Today we arrived in Rangiroa, our one stop in the Tuamuto Islands.

  Rangiroa is not a single island but rather a vast atoll consisting of 240 motus (islets). The atoll delineates the crater of a long-extinct volcano. The lagoon inside the ring of motus is so large that standing on the shore of one motu you cannot see the motus on the far side of the atoll. To get an idea of the size of the atoll, in the picture below taken as we departed the atoll note that the motus extend all the way to the horizon with less than a 90 degree arch.

  After doing one 360 degree turn to avoid running through the narrow channel into the atoll during a blindingly heavy rain shower, ROTTERDAM ran the channel in intermittent showers (some in bright sunshine) and gusty winds.

  By the time we anchored and the process of ferrying people ashore was underway the weather had cleared up nicely. The temperature was working its way through the 80's.

  Arriving ashore, Pam & I immediately transferred to a small boat for a snorkeling expedition.

  I have no pictures because I do not have an underwater camera. There was an abundance of fish to see including some sharks, but nothing that made me regret not having a camera.

  Back on shore, we no sooner had changed out of our swimming suits and walked well away from any shelter than another brief but strong rain shower hit. Thankfully, we had our ponchos with us much to the envy of those not so well equipped.

  As soon as the shower passed the heat returned with the rain water converting to humidity. Being of sound mind, Pam & I removed ourselves to the nearby upscale hotel where we planted ourselves on the porch of the bar built out over the water and had a nice lunch.

  We walked back along the beach to the tender pier and returned to the ship.

  Our departure out of the atoll through the narrow channel was more pleasant than the morning transit.

 

  Once through the channel, the ship's pilot who had been with us since Raiatea disembarked and the ship set a course for Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands.