Fakarava Snorkeling

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Warm water, blue skies, and colorful sea life combined for an amazing excursion on Fakarava  Cruise Map Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Featured Entertainer Cruise Reference Fakarava is a rectangular atoll about 35 miles long by 15 miles wide.  The narrow strip of land surrounding the lagoon ranges from about 500 ft to ¼ mile across.  There are two navigable entrances, one at each end of the rectangle.  Fakarava is the second largest atoll in French Polynesia, right behind Rangiora. Satellite View of Fakarava showing our snorkeling locations  The Zuiderdam entered the lagoon through the north entrance and anchored ¾ of a mile from shore. Our final snorkeling excursion for this cruise was scheduled for Fakarava with Fakarava Excursions.  We booked the morning ½ day tour which was the only one available at the time.  Subsequently, they opened some afternoon tours, but we decided to stay with the morning tour (8:30 AM departure) even though that meant another early start for us. Here is the tour description from their website: Departure:  8.30 a.m. – Return:  12.30 p.m. / Boat trip:  40 min to go/60 min return First, we will sail all along the north channel “GARUAE”.  Then we will join TEAHATEA, one of the best places of Fakarava.  It is a lagoon inside the lagoon, like a clear, warm and natural swimming pool with white sand beach around.  It’s time to use your camera! During the return, we will have a break for advanced snorkeling on coral rocks inside the lagoon. Fresh water, fruits juice, chilled coconut water with a straw, coconut cake, cookies included.  You will also learn how to husk, open, grate and extract coco milk, and to prepare traditional raw fish.  Then, you are free to doze, sunbath, swim or play the role of Robinson… You don’t need to pay in advance.  The price is $75 or 7500 CFP.  It’s a better deal to pay in CFP if you can get your money changed in advance. The Cruise director announced that we were cleared to go ashore at 7:30 AM and we were out the door in a few minutes to head to the BB King lounge where Tender tickets are distributed for four and five-star mariners.  The lounge was empty and there was no wait for anyone who wanted to go to shore this early. Fakarava does not have a lot of popular excursions, like Easter Island, so the demand for tender tickets is low.  The tender ride was about 10 minutes. The Tender Landing area on Fakarava  Once ashore, there were only a few boats moored along the dock and it was easy to spot the one for our tour as it was displaying a sign labeled Fakarava Excursions.  We were a little early, so we had time to wander through the nearby market that sold everything from groceries to hand tools. Our Tour BoatThis group was playing local music when we arrived We boarded our boat and left the dock at 8:30 AM heading west and speeding past the Zuiderdam in a few minutes.  We weren’t sure exactly where we would be going but I was able to track our progress using Maps.me  (Available in the Apple or Google Store) and could only speculate as to our ultimate destination. After 30 minutes we stopped near a small island and drifted for a few minutes while our guide explained that commercial fishing is restricted here along with an explanation of the various birds in the area.  The most interesting information was that the birds built their nests on the ground because there were no predators on this island. We stopped near this small island for a few minutes on the way to the Blue Lagoon  A few minutes later we arrived at our mooring in the Green Lagoon, located in the northwest corner of the atoll’s interior.  We would wade about 50 yards ashore in the calf-deep water to the Blue Lagoonwhich is a notch in the larger atoll between two of the larger, narrow landmasses. Heading to the Blue Lagoon with our bag of snorkeling gearThe Blue Lagoon While we headed over to the Blue Lagoon to start snorkeling, our captain, and his crew of one set up a portable table with some snacks and beverages we would enjoy later. Our tour group enjoyed some snacks during a break from our snorkeling These were the snacks we enjoyed during our break Varying from a few feet to over 10 feet deep, the turquoise water was warm and filled with colorful fish.  There was very little current and swimming along the surface was easy.  I enjoyed watching a school of Chromis fish dart in and out of their coral home as I would get closer and move away. These fish woud seek cover inside the coral as I approachedTypical fish found in the Blue Lagoon After about 30 minutes in the water, we headed ashore and enjoyed some cookies, fresh fruit, and juice before heading back to the water for more snorkeling.  We only saw one reef shark, but there were plenty of other species of tropical fish. We were here about 1 hour and 45 minutes before wading back out to the boat.  It was now 11 AM. Heading east, we sped across the water at high speed for 30 minutes until we arrived at our deep-water snorkeling spot.  The water here was from 5 to 30 feet deep.  The current was noticeable and having fins is recommended to help you swim against the current to avoid drifting into shallow coral, tread water easier, and maneuver.  Most of the fish were a little further away and everything was more spread out.  There were a few reef sharks, not as many as we saw on Raiatea, but a couple.  We were here about 45 minutes before we climbed back into the boat and sped off back to town, arriving in 15 minutes (12:30 PM local time). Here are some of the fish we saw in the deeper water snorkeling areaWe saw a few Black Tip Reef Sharks in the deep water snorkeling area The payment was not required in advance, so everyone paid our captain at the dock before we said our goodbyes and went ashore. Our tour Captain and Crew  There isn’t very much to do here other than go on snorkeling tours.  There is a small tourist information center with restrooms and slow Wi-Fi.  The password was printed on a piece of paper on a bulletin board next to the door.  Next to the tourist information building is a small building with a half dozen tables filled with local crafts. Tourist Information Center. The Wi-Fi was slow and the password was posted outside the door  There was a vendor renting bicycles and selling T-shirts near the Tender waiting area.   Pedal Bikes and E-Bikes were available for rent    T Shirts for sale near the tender landing    The Artisan Market is behind the tender landingInside the Artisan Market 100 yards further north was a small café selling pastries, snacks, and soft drinks. There are a couple of restaurants down the road heading south along with a church.  Here is a nice video from “Cruise Ship Karen” that shows more of the island than we visited during our brief time ashore.  After about 1 hour we headed back to the ship where we learned we were required to complete another muster drill that was as simple as the first time – go to your station, scan your card and watch the safety video in your cabin.  (Note:  this is required every thirty days)

[travelbug2225]

Thank you for wonderful reviews. Are they any local people or boat hang around the pier that we can hire to go for snorkel?

[Gallivanter'sGal]

We rented bikes, put our snorkel stuff in the basket and found our own snorkeling spots.  It was great!!

[Coolcruise02]

Did you reserve your bikes or get them at the pier?

Do you remember how far or which direction you went to snorkel?

Are their public beaches?

Thanks!

 

[Gallivanter'sGal]

You rent them where you arrive and we did not reserve in advance, but I'd suggest that you try to get off in the first hour or so.  We went off to the left and stopped at the gravel road but we later spoke to someone who went to the very end and said it was great.  Prior to the gravel road we stopped in several locations to snorkel and each location was excellent.  After that we road past where we got the bikes until we decided to head back.  If you go to the right there are beaches.  To the left is more rocky.

[Host Bonjour]

Added this topic to the main snorkeling stickie on the top of the page.