The day started with a morning flight from Tahiti to the island of Raiatea, where we would meet friends and charter the sailboat. The flight made a quick stop along the way at Bora Bora, and from the air, the island was so beautiful. We would be sailing back here a few days later, but seeing it from the air was a great primer for what was to come. Bora Bora has overwater bungalows at some of the luxury resorts, and they make these beautiful patterns in the water.
We landed in Raiatea, which must be one of the smallest airports I’ve ever flown into, and then took a short cab ride to the marina to board the boat, unpack, and do some quick grocery shopping for the week. Then we were off for a couple of hours of sailing before anchoring off the island of Taha’a.
The water here was so warm and clear. Most of us headed into the water and spent the next hour just floating around the boat, watching the sea life below us.
But the real show in terms of sea life started around dusk. That’s when the stingrays and sharks come out. We’d heard that we’d likely see sharks, but I didn’t imagine how many would actually be around us. As it got darker, we turned on the underwater lights, which brought even more fish and sea creatures. It was like having the world’s largest aquarium in your backyard. Truly amazing!!!
