Hello all 

We reached the next group of French Polynesia now. 

The Tuamotu islands.  These are the lagoons islands that Capt Cook called the dangerous islands so to be well avoided. 

Not dangerous now with. Chart plotters and GPS accuracy. 

For many years the whaling boat captains kept their location secret to discourage other whaling boats. 

Information and charts being passed down from father to son. 

We are in a lagoon today that you can't see the other side of. 

20 by 40 miles across and thousands of feet deep. 

Top of a volcano. 

Rangiroa. 

Look it up. 

Beautiful. 

Small fishing village on the shores. 

Several diving business and two top line hotels. 

I expect very expensive. 

Thatch huts out over the water on stilts. 

Talked to a couple that had just been here on a 10 day diving holiday and they described it as the best ever. 

Clear water and vivid colours. 

Strong currents to carry you though the passes and a dive boat to pick you up the other end. 

Unfortunately I have a cold today so can't dive. However we did dine in a restaurant that had hugely colourful fish underneath the deck and out side the patio. 

We saw a Parrot fish which looked like Picasso painted him.  

Reef sharks galore. A Sting Ray just glided by. Then Hammer heads turned up to be fed by hand. 

Not my hand I might add but they assured us they are not dangerous. 2 clients of the dive shop said no not dangerous at all.  We swam with them yesterday. 

Only 200 miles to Tahiti now. 

The Society Islands. 

Bill.