Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

This morning we were ready in apprehension for our “Walk on the Ocean Floor tour. Two other couples from our table are booked too and we were trying to figure out what it would entail. We were picked up by a small boat and taken to another platform boat waiting out in the middle of the ocean. The water all around was crystal clear and azure blue. We were explained what will be happening and what to expect.

First of all they bring a very heavy helmet on a pulley over to above your head as you are waiting on the stairs leading down to the water. The helmet is attached to an orange oxygen hose to an oxygen tank. The helmet which is very very heavy is lowered onto your shoulders. Oxygen is fed in and as you are lowered the water is forced out of the helmet and you are safe with dry hair and glasses on. The helmet has windows to look out of and a window on each side of your head. A net black sack with bread is attached to the helmet to attract the fish.

I was lowered down, way, way down and felt safe. The scuba diver was with me giving hand signals to see if I was alright. I stepped onto the ocean floor and then all around were these amazing multi colored fish. They were in front, on the side, by my legs nipping at me. The fish were incredible, some of which I have seen in smaller sizes in Pet Stores in Edmonton. There were bright yellow and black fish, a purple, turquoise blue with a soft pink colored fish, and angel fish and zebra fish and huge big fat ones with a big head and big lips. There was coral all around but a flat area to walk around. You could go far from the boat with no problems. Doug then came down and we were feeding the fish with our hands. They came right up in front of our us and nibbled at our fingers. Some had small little teeth, but that didn’t matter. I tried touching them as they floated by but they would dart away. The scuba diver and the camera woman kept watching that we were ok. There were five of us at a time underwater. We were told it was around 10 feet. Then the scuba diver pointed out a huge long fish looking at us and it was a Baracuda. It wanted food so the scuba diver held out raw fish and the Baracuda swam right in front of us to grab the raw fish. He kept swimming and swimming around us and would come by many times to eat and we weren’t frightened. He had huge sharp teeth and a host smaller fish swimming underneath him.

This tour was one of those rare occasions when it turns out to be much better than you had hoped it to be. It was brilliant. It may be one of our special moments of the trip and we are hoping our up coming Zip Line experience in New Zealand will be the same.

It is overcast today in Bora Bora since it is the rainy season but still very warm and humid. The sun is trying to peak out in the distance.

What a fine morning.