Tahitianbigkahuna

Enjoying Huahine ...

Enjoy ... taken on Bora Bora last year. Snorkeling on the surface, GoPro7, nothing fancy ... , yup, you can get that close to them. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5Zx7QpW/0/069ab4f1/1280/i-5Zx7QpW-1280.mp4

We've had good luck snorkeling for the mantas .... I would say 2/3's of the time we've spotted mantas. About 8 out of 12 times ....

Beautiful One Foot Island on Aitutaki .... will visit again in October.

A few from the garden yesterday ... Sony RX10IV

Enjoying a beautiful sunset over by the twin motus on Moorea ...

A big shade hat ... with a strap so it doesn't blow off when your on a boat in the lagoon. I aways bring one. A multi 110V plug with USB outlets as well. We always bring one. If your a returnee remember you get free laundry 😉

I was on-board less than 4 months ago 😉 Another for you to enjoy taken @ the IC Tahiti

You want to go to the dive 'desk' on deck 4 next to the excursions counter 😉

You can't stop easily and by trying to effect everyone behind you ... they start running into each other and that is how people get cut ... so please don't try and stop. It is a single line ... BTW ... my Better Half never does the actual drift, I do ... she sits at the end of the drift area and takes video ...

I'm not perfectly fine with everything that took place ... however, to be fair to Ponant it was likely the deep pockets of Mr. Ponant that helped get the PG through the down time of covid. Ponant is a work in process as far as the PG. I believe they've finally figured it out that the PG is it's own brand ... they cannot deal with the PG in the same way as the other Ponant ships ... I see positive signs every time I go aboard over the last few years but there is still room for improvement. The heart and soul of the PG is the crew and for the most part that has not changed ... Other small cruise lines are starting to check out FP and some will be staying in FP ... competition is always healthy for the consumer.

Usually ebikes available at the tender location ... but not sure if they will be there for the afternoon on that first day ...

Will be on PG in FP in October 2023 Will be on the Regent Navigator in FP in January 2024 Will be on the Star Breeze in FP in October 2024 Might be a few more ...

#31 is On the PG in October 2023 But I have several in 2024

This fall will be trip #31 to the South Pacific ... most to French Polynesia. Pictured is the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, a wonderful place for pre/post cruise stay for a night or two. Moorea sits in the background ... incredible sunsets in the South Pacific. Picture taken with my thrifty iPhone SE3.

Huh? You came up with 125% You mean all those expensive owner suites at the front of the ship don't have self leveling features 😂

Nope .... 1:30 PM ... as stated on the PG web page 😉 Meaning first tender will likely not happen before 2:00PM. There could be a few snorkeling opportunities in the North pass in the afternoon but know the wind usually comes up in the afternoon making the water a bit choppy. Best time for snorkeling will be in the morning.

In rough seas it will be more pitch up and down in the rear ... how it effects people is different, some it isn't a big deal but for some it can be 'a big deal' 😉 More stable is mid=ship down low, another words deck 3 and 4 (no balcony). It's a trade off.

Jenallan18 Truth be known ... many returnees pick deck 4 cabins as the price is substantially less. Deck for isn't 'lowly' ... fact is the actual cabin foot print is the same as most of the deck 6 & 7 cabins ... yup, same size and amenities. Only different you won't have a balcony ... but there is so much deck space on the ship that you can go find a 'balcony'.

Another of the same hummer ... Sony RZ10IV 600MM equivalent, 1/500, F4.5, ISO-320 Basic Lightroom edit.

I purchased one years ago ... was a bit slow IMO if you wanted to keep your ISO low ... was fun for a season ... then I sold it for something much better.

I have several editing programs but 95% of my editing which is basic is done in Lightroom. I'm a fanatic about people over editing ... easy to spot by anyone in the know. Only rarely do I open Photoshop ...

Got to be careful .... magnifying mask will make the sharks look larger and their teeth closer 😂

As a pro photog I wrestled with this for years ... gone now are the days of 20 pounds of photography/video equipment. I also will be on the Flora in August of next year enjoying the Galapagos. I will bring my iPhone SE3, GoPro 10 and a very capable bridge camera does does everything well ... Sony RX10IV. I leave my Sony 7IV's and Zeiss glass at home ... bringing a $5000 camera/lens combo isn't good idea IMO. The Sony RX10IV is one heck of a crop sensor camera .... 24-600mm equivalent zoom at a constant F4. Takes wonderful video as well.

Isn't it nice that deck 3 port hole cruisers can have equal footing with those in the owners suite. I find it refreshing ...