This is a terrible joke that we titled this post, “Almost The Last Post”. Originally, we thought we should make a post before we snorkeled south Fakarava passage because of the danger but we didn’t really want to scare anyone so we waited until we got back to the boat. The south Fakrava passage is known for the amazing snorkeling and diving, plus the abundant amount of sharks. Literally today we saw a school of sharks. Honestly 30 to 40 sharks, the most sharks either of us have ever seen in one place. Strangely enough the school was not the least bit scary. We swam slowly and calmly past them all. The scariest sharks were the first two when we first entered the water. They not only circled us rapidly but came at us with what looked like intent. This passage is snorkeled and dove year round with little incidents, we hope, so our confidence was hight that the sharks were just comfortable with people. After today some of the sharks were a little too comfortable with people.
Yesterday was supposed to be our heavy winds, but turned out to be beautiful. We really enjoyed north Fakarava. We met some of the loveliest people in the village and found some amazing black pearls at Hinano Black Pearl Farm. Fakarava Yacht Services was a great resource and provided us with free internet for our short stay so really it is the atoll that has it all. We left north Fakarava today after getting our freshly made bread and croissants because our winds are about to turn out of the east and we need to get as far east as we can before turning north. All and all if you’re going to visit an atoll or want to know what atoll life is like Fakarava should be at the top of your list. Not only is the diving and snorkeling remarkable but the people and scenery are majestic.
Comfort Cruising Tip: Make sure to have a long painter or line attached to the bow of the dinghy. This helps so that neither of you get tangled in the line while both swimming with the line in hand. Sometimes swimming with the painter in hand is helpful so you can tow the dinghy. Towing the dinghy is nice if you need to jump inside at a moments notice.
Cheers,
Wade and Sara
Boat position: 16 degrees 31.085 minutes south, 145 degrees 28.198 minutes west
