Snorkeling in Taha’a; French Polynesia Part 7

Destination: Tahaa, French Polynesia

Date: July 2013

Activity: Snorkeling and Sailing

Colton was put in charge of checking the upper sails
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

Colton at the top of the mast checking all the rigging
Taha’a, French Polyneisa July 2013

Our trip over to Taha’a was a short hour and a half sail from Raiatea. Again we had to search the harbors looking for a place to avoid the wind. Who knew how important the wind factor would be until I boarded a boat for vacation? We skirted into one bay only to find it wasn’t as calm as we liked so then we would motor over to another to be equally disappointed. Finally we settled on Haamene Bay and set our anchor.

Uncle “M” helping Colton fish on our sail over to Taha’a
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

The boys posing with the huge yacht in the harbor
Taha’a,French Polynesia July 2013

Time in Taha’a has been very leisurely. Just sitting on the bow of the Amara and taking in the view was spectacular. There is a huge 300 million dollar yacht here in the bay next to us and I couldn’t keep my binoculars away as I studied to see who might come or go from this amazing ship. Unfortunately, I don’t think I ever saw anyone but the staff walking on deck or getting their tender to or from the boat. How I wished they’d see us so interested and want to invite us on board….Do I sound crazy? Maybe just a little I suppose.

Clay and Colton enjoying front row seats on our sail to Taha’a
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

Colton having too much fun on board the Amara
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

Some of the cool fish we saw snorkeling
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

This new sailing life has turned me into a curious cat because I can’t stop wondering about each boat in the harbor and what their story is. Why are they out here? Is this their permanent life or just a holiday? Do they have children? I think that may be the hardest part of this trip for my own kids… no other children to play with. At resorts they find friends quickly in the pools or at the beach but staying on a boat in the harbor isn’t conducive to new kindled friendships.

The beautiful view of Taha’a from the motu we found to snorkel from
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

Bella was so excited to find this old oyster shell while snorkeling
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

The beautiful fish we found at our awesome snorkel spot
Taha’a, French Polynesia July 2013

Lexi snorkeling in Taha’a
French Polynesia, July 2013

In Taha’a we found an island nearby that we rode over to and used as a base point for our snorkeling. The kids have loved all of the underwater wildlife they have spotted. Since our snorkel with the stingrays and black-tipped reef sharks they have spotted dozens of other marine life. We have spotted dolphins a few times trailing our boat or riding the wakes of others. The kids seem to love the snorkeling the best. While we’ve been here Colton and Bailey have also been working on getting scuba certified. They started the process in Mo’orea and will finish their last lessons in Bora Bora with Top Dive. It has been nice to have such a flexible program for them here in French Polynesia.