Rangiroa is completely unlike our other stops in French Polynesia. It is a vast rugby ball shaped atoll 20km wide and 80km long. We anchored at the entrance to the lagoon on one side, and the other side was mostly invisible from the ship: just a couple of little “hills” in the far distance.

The entrance to the lagoon is narrow and looked pretty treacherous when the tidal current was running through: suitable only for small ships obviously. It does have a tiny airport. The population is barely 3000. Tourism seems to be the main game, mostly because it is a scuba diving mecca.

As you can see below there are no hills: 3 to 5 metres above sea level about does it. Below you can see where the tenders went in on the right and a little sandy motu (with one poor little tree) in the foreground.

Ashore we found these happy “burglars” who cheerfully charged $US50 per person to “water taxi” us to the “acquarium” beside the motu … a 2 minute fast boat ride each way!

There, we spent over an hour snorkelling from another anchored boat among the sharks, eels, and abundant fish. The coral wasn’t much to speak of, but the fish were GREAT! And, actually it was worth the $US100 for the experience.

After lunch on the ship we came ashore again and walked to the outside of the atoll (about 300 metres) …

… and then along a bit and found the gorgeous Kia Ora Resort

… we had a couple of (very expensive) drinks and an ice cream treat

… and then wandered slowly back to the ship …

A wonderful, more enjoyable than expected, day!

More from Rangiroa …

In addition to charging $US300 to take 6 people for a 2 minute very fast ride … look, this guy can do it with no hands!

Atolls are very flat …

… and here’s little “one tree” motu. It protects the “acquarium” on the other (lagoon) side.

The outside of the atoll is obviously pretty rough and bleak at times, but very pretty this day.

This is NOT a beach for swimming though … just for sitting and thinking …

… and walking and looking …

At Kia Ora Resort …

… I enjoyed an ice cream sundae …

… and, isn’t it funny how Nana Jan always seems so at home in a place like this?