Kauehi atoll
05.06.19 to10.06.19
Picking the right atoll to make landfall has been the subject of many discussions with many people. We have elected to get to Kauehi first, as the pass is not so challenging and the write up on snorkeling is glowing. Our pilot book is not actually that useful for the Tuamotus, plenty of warning and scary comments, not necessarily helpful. Still we made it through; we negotiated the passe at the suitable time to get the right tide and current. Although it was tense with concentration, when all was said and done, we have had more turbulent entrance in Portsmouth harbour entrance, with Sunday early evening traffic to boot on top of it. But the anchorage back there was not as beautiful as the one we found in the atoll. Plenty room and only 10 boats in. The book was right, for our first atoll this is perfect. Low lying islands topped with coconut trees, exposed coral linking the islands and sea in ever changing hues of blues and turquoise. It is just fabulous! Below sea level, it is just as stunning… we are parked about 30 meters away from huge coral heads, the colours and shapes of it is definitely the best we have ever seen. As for the array of fishes, it is out of this world, loads in numbers and in different species. The most amazing are the sharks, as big as me and completely oblivious to our presence, mercifully. The kayak is inflated, and despite the wind on the nose we use it to come and go to shore. It is good fun and extremely fast but we need to practice our synchronization. Not sure if I will ever be able to use it on my own, it is quite big and the wind has been too strong even for the both of us. We spend a bit of time with a capella of Belfast , Pat and Julian, which is nice, but everyone is now moving on. From the 10 boats in the anchorage we are now down to 2, got to meet Bruno’s Girl, Claudia and Philip, quick before they also disappear.
