August 29, 2013
Today we did more exploring in the lagoon. As the crow flies, it’s not that big, less than four miles across at its widest point. But along with the vast stretches of sand and shallow water are groups of motus, small rock islands. They range in size, some no larger than a boulder, while others are large enough to have their own beach (even multiple beaches). Sometimes a group’s islets are small and widely spaced, while others have formed a world unto themselves with a maze of waterways, hidden pools and beaches. I have no idea how long it would take to explore all these groups, but I have a theory that if a person were really determined, they could discover a new beach for each day of the year in these islets.
There was an intriguing group of motus near the pass we named Shark Pool. We took the dinghy over along with our gear. While the snorkeling wasn’t impressive, being in the water here was magical! Swimming in the clear, shallow, blue-green water amidst these rock islets was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While there are a few places on earth like this, they’re rare, and we’d been fortunate to visit this one.
Below, a gallery of photos from our motu swim; you can click to enlarge and scroll. –Cyndi
