Makatae, Tuamotus, French Polynesia, 8/29/2018, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
One of the most surprising things about this expedition has been how drastically different each location has been. Makatae, with its intriguing geological formation and natural wonders, was certainly no exception.
A self confessed “animal nerd,” Chris falls under many titles: marine biologist, marine interpreter, dive master, science communicator, and naturalist. Chris was lucky enough to grow up on the East Coast of Australia, where there are no shortage of d...
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National Geographic Orion spent the day at sea, sailing for Tahiti. The seas were flat and the sky was blue. We all enjoyed some time to relax. We watched presentations from the naturalists and spent time on the bow. Seabirds were all around. Some curious ones even came in for a closer look. The sun began to set as the ship pulled into the harbor at Papeete.
National Geographic Orion spent the entire day on Tahanea Atoll. The morning was full of adventures on land. Some the guests walked around a small motu and its abandoned village. The rest of us took Zodiacs across the lagoon to look for rare birds. In the afternoon, everyone strapped on their masks and fins to drift snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the pass. At sunset, the ship sailed for open seas.
This morning, we sailed between some of the atolls of the Tuamotus and entered the pass of Tahanea. We went ashore to a gorgeous little spot on one of the motus lining the rim of this island. Here, we took out the toys and enjoyed paddleboarding in calm, azure waters. We snorkeled off the beach in clear water filled with coral and fish. Many of us wandered beside the open ocean. And, of course, the hotel team spoiled us with treats. It was really nice to be back in the warm waters of the Tuamotus. So nice, in fact, that we plan to do it all again tomorrow.
