Our 5-hour passage from Raiatea to Huahine was spectacular.  It is not often that we are able to raise the full main and jib as we tend to sail conservatively. However, we had fairly light winds at 15-17 kts so we through caution to the wind.  Heading to course had the wind hitting on our nose.  So, we sailed a zig zag course to catch the wind and fill the sails.  Everyone enjoyed being at sail but were anxious to see a bit of the aquarium.

We anchored off of Huahine Iti (the smaller of the two islands) at Pointe Teapara.  There is a beautiful, but popular beach just off Port Bourayne.  It was crowded full of locals and the passengers from a large 40-meter yacht called Imagine D.  They had a few Polynesian musicians, full food/beverage spread, floats and a javelin spearing contest (who could spear a coconut).  Pretty fun to watch.

Huahine always provides some amazing sunrises and sunsets

Matt made his super tasty chicken roti for dinner, brownies for desert and topped the night off with a little rum tasting.  A sampling of rum from Antigua (English Harbor), Bonaire (Ron Rincon), Diplomatico (Venezuela), and St. Croix (Captain Morgan Private Reserve)

Our Personal Aquarium Pool

We snorkeled three spots off of Huahine.  The reef, the Avapehi Pass, and the “nursery.”  The reef had a large selection of fish and colorful coral.  The pass had much larger fish as the waters were a lot deeper.  The pass also had several different species that we had not seen before.  But the best snorkel was the “nursery” at it felt like we were swimming inside an aquarium.  There were tons of fish, perfect clarity, and a bountiful underwater life.  Here are few pictures.

There are lots and lots of clams and they all have different colored lipstick on.  The top left shows one with green outline, yellow lips and spots whereas the center one has bright blue lipstick.  The top right is a Christmas tree worm that retracts when you come close to it.  They come in yellow, blue, purple, green and red and are no bigger than an inch.

Tons of fish species all around.  However, my favorite fish is the center one. His top and bottom dorsal fins are transparent.    I think the bottom right is a puffer

We swam with lots of schools of fish as well.  The sea life was spectacular.

Rocco found a shell and as we were swimming back to the dinghy a school of butterfly fish hovered about.  They were eating out of the shell.  No fear and tons of curiosity.

I think Rocco is part fish or was a fish in another life.  He thrives in the water and is genuinely excited to see everything.  It is such a pleasure to share this experience with he and Linda.  Swimming in our very own aquarium.

On Shore at Huahine

We did make it to shore and stopped by Izzy’s for her fabulous burgers.  We also found Marae Tahu’ea on the way to the Pearl Treehouse.  Marae Tahu’ea was dedicated to the sea-god Ruahatu.  The marae’s platform (called an “ahu”) was made up of upright coral and basalt slabs with an interior fill.   This marae dates between 16^th and 18^th century.  The top photo is Roco, Izzy and I, the center is Linda watching over Sugar Shack and the bottom is Marae Tahu’ea.