4 April 2009
Fakarava Atoll
We spent the day here, deciding not to head over to Faaite (which has the surf spot) as we were still licking our wounds after the 4 day crossing. I fixed the gennie and Andy and Chantal baked bread and banana loaf. Our anchorage of last night turned out to be in the middle of a strong outflowing current and opposing winds, so today we scoped out the area for a better anchorage. We eventually found an old mooring right in the best spot, halfway out the reef pass, off to the side in a big eddy. I dived on the mooring and its a huge old anchor, nice and strong. Across the reef pass is an old abandoned village and small rustic dive resort with all its bungalows and little bar/restaurant out on stilts, jutting into the pass, awesome. The diving just below shimmi is out of this world, just 1st class tropical snorkelling with plenty black tip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, trumpet fish etc etc. Josh was in his element, not scared to snorkel with the sharks which are bigger than him. He also now dives down to about 3m, even more if there is an audience. We joined the resort for dinner, about 15 other people, buffet. Indie and Josh were running around laughing their heads off. To get to the restaurant we simply drive the dingy up to the edge of their deck, voila! Now its tummy's full and of to bed. Andy is catching sharks with a spoon off the back. If you know nothing about fishing that might sound strange. Just a loud yelp from him every now and then. First thing tomorrow morning we cruise 12 miles across to Faaite, hold thumbs for swell, offshore wind and big empty barrels.
Au revoir
G
