Ana's visit to Bora Bora! A relaxing day on the Lagoon!

Being an independent photographer here in Bora normally keeps me busy.  When not in the field, I spend a good deal of time at home working on photos & video!

A few weeks back, I welcomed my good friend Ana from Peru; May was a busy month but I did when possible expose her to the Magical Beauty of Bora Bora.  Ana having a great personality she also rapidly became friend with many people here which allowed her to get a true feel of the life here!

This post is to describe in photos a wonderful day we spent touring the lagoon, thanks to my good friend FanFan to have taken us on the tour this day!

The conditions were perfect, sunny and crystal clear waters!  We boarded his large touring catamaran and our first stop was at the Coral Garden, a very popular and beautiful spot abounding with tropical fish to enjoy some snorkeling.

Next we headed close to the Reef for a close encounter with the Sting Rays and Black tips sharks swarming around!  Both stops were just magical, something that can't be expressed in words or photos!  - You have to live it!

The tour being done, we headed to his Motu (small Island) where we enjoyed a traditional lunch, "poisson cru" and BBQ Mahi Mahi; needless to say that the peacefulness of the place and the food was something that will stay in your one's memory for ever!

A very relaxing lunch with a short nap and then more snorkeling near the Motu!  We walk a few hundred yards and then starting swimming away from the beach to find the downward current that would allow us to drift back where we came from.  The objective was for us to find the Eagles Rays that are commonly in the area! And what a beautiful surprise, when we saw them!  I think this day will stay in Ana's memory for ever!  We could not have asked for better!

Eagles Rays near the reef!

I am pretty sure that Ana will be back to Bora Bora!

Click read more to see a few more photos!

A taste of the Lagoon - A private tour with Pierrot (Keishi Tours)

A few weeks back, I received a call from Pierrot of Keishi Tours (keishi-tour.com) to ask me if I was available to join clients on a private tour to film them.

Having filmed groups many times, I was of course not going to say no to a private tour on the Lagoon to film!

The friendly String Rays

We met in the morning, got everything ready and headed for the Hilton (Bora Nui) to pick up our clients.  We docked at the resort and met Cathy and her husband Matty (their western names).  Both were from China and were so eager to discover and spend the day on the lagoon!  They were such a nice and easy going couple that I knew this was going to be a vacation day for me!

We first stopped at a popular area for a close encounter with the friendly Sting Rays while Black Tips sharks were circling around.  Seeing their excitement made my day!

Our next stop was the Garden of Coral where they enjoyed snorkeling amongst the many species of tropical fish in the area!

The conditions could not have been better that day and being on this tour in private allowed us to be pretty much alone the entire time!

Pierrot then took us to his private Motu and proceeded to light the BBQ and set up the table for our guests!

Lunch is served!  Tahitian style "poisson cru", salad, local lobsters, chicken, shrimp kebabs, steaks & potatoes and fresh fruits to finish and all this with a nicely chilled bottle of Champagne; I think Cathy and Matty did not eat for the 2 days!

During this time I proposed to Cathy & Matty to take a few photos.  I did not have my land cameras but getting the Nex5 out of the underwater housing did the trick.

The lunch was simply amazing and there could not have been a more romantic setting in the world!

Take a peek at trailer of the video here!

A romantic escapade to Tupai

The Atoll of Tupai in the background

This past week at the pleasure of meeting Makoto & Yuka; a young couple from Japan full of life and love enjoying their honeymoon in Bora Bora.  Not only I had the pleasure meeting them but they had hired me to take photos of them while flying to Tupai.

Tūpai, also called Motu Iti, is a low-lying atoll in Society Islands, French Polynesia. It lies 19 km to the north of Bora Bora and belongs to the Leeward Islands (Iles sous le Vent). This small atoll is only 11 km² in area. Its broad coral reef encloses a shallow sandy lagoon. There are almost continuous long woodedmotus on Tūpai's reef. Tupai has no permanent residents apart from some workers in the coconut plantations. There is a private airfield on Tūpai. It was inaugurated in 2001 and its use is restricted.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%ABpai

This is something I get to do once in a while and each time I am blown away by the natural beauty of Bora Bora and Tupai!  Seeing it from the Sky gives you such an amazing perspective of the Deep Blue South Pacific and the contrast of the different Turquoise shades of the Lagoon!

It was their first time flying in a Helicopter and I am sure that this trip will make for life long memories!  The plan was to Fly to Tupai from Bora Bora, about a 10-15 mins flight and try to capture the Heart Shape Atoll of Tupai through the window.  Once there, we had about 30 mins on the beach where they enjoyed a champagne toast and had fun taking photos! 

 The flight back was equally amazing with a stunning view of the Lagoon of Bora Bora and Mt Otemanu!

What to do in Bora Bora ~ A Lagoon tour

Many of the people I meet here ask me what is the best thing to do in Bora Bora.  While there are many activities and tours to be done on the Island; one in my opinion is to do a Lagon Tour.  The Lagoon tour will normally leave in the morning with Pick Up at your resort.

In most cases and that is of course depending on weather conditions, a typical tour will take you outside the Reef, the water there will be around 10m/30' deep blue and you will be swimming with the curious Black Tip Sharks on the look out for a sardine.  In the same area, you might also get to see some Lemon Sharks which are bigger in size (2m/6') circling on the bottom.

Next you will be navigating back inside the Lagoon and stop to see and have an amazing experience with the Sting Rays!  They are very friendly and today are used to the humans and will come right up to you.  The last stop before Lunch or a refreshment (depends on the tour) you will probably stop at the Coral Of Coral which is a very popular snorkeling spot in Bora Bora with many tropical fish to be seen.

Once done with the tour which will have taken you all around the Island, you might get to enjoy a nice lunch on a private Motu!

 See video below