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Rangiroa, French Polynesia

January 22, 2016 on a cruise. Rangiroa ("huge sky") is the largest atoll (ring of coral) in French Polynesia, part of the Tuamotu archipelago. Basically it's a 75 km long circle of coral and one of best dive sites in the world. We and 6 others from the ship went snorkeling with a dive firm called The Six Passengers. After lunch on the ship, I went back out to explore both sides of the Tiputa Pass. Boat trips and bike rentals were possible if you went ashore early enough in the morning. I just did a bit of walking, plus took a water taxi across the pass to look around.

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Photos are by Ruth and Howard Rosenthal; copyright January 2016.
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Going through Tiputa Pass - shows just how narrow it is! Has to be done right or you don't get in.
Going through Tiputa Pass - shows just how narrow it is! Has to be done right or you don't get in.		 In the middle of pass is tiny islet with one palm tree
In the middle of pass is tiny islet with one palm tree		 Went thru pass around 7:15; people were still doing their morning rituals
Went thru pass around 7:15; people were still doing their morning rituals		 Here you can see two sides of Tiputa Pass
Here you can see two sides of Tiputa Pass		 Sail in after going through pass; forgot to look for dolphins around ship, though
Sail in after going through pass; forgot to look for dolphins around ship, though		 Marina anchored on west side of Rangi lagoon; Holland America cruise ship anchored on other side about same time
Marina anchored on west side of Rangi lagoon; Holland America cruise ship anchored on other side about same time
We went ashore and Howard saw Dominic about to go out exploring
We went ashore and Howard saw Dominic about to go out exploring		 Greeters at the tender pier: musicians & woman who gave me crown
Greeters at the tender pier: musicians & woman who gave me crown		 Howard admired a woman's crown, and she offered to make me one. Surprisingly, it was adjustable.
Howard admired a woman's crown, and she offered to make me one. Surprisingly, it was adjustable.		 Ruth showing off her crown. (Few people got them.)
Ruth showing off her crown. (Few people got them.)		 Howard was given a simpler crown
Howard was given a simpler crown		 Went snorkeling with The Six Passengers. I wimped out, but Howard did some photography with his new camera from Costco
Went snorkeling with "The Six Passengers." I wimped out, but Howard did some photography with his new camera from Costco
1st snorkel site near Tiputa Pass - lagoon floor
1st snorkel site near Tiputa Pass - lagoon floor		 More pretty coral
More pretty coral		 Lots of striped fish
Lots of striped fish		 Tons of fish
Tons of fish 		Eel
Eel		 Fish with blue tail, green marks
Fish with blue tail, green marks
Eel & yellow fish
Eel & yellow fish		 Blue & green fish - 1st of 3 snorkeling spots
Blue & green fish - 1st of 3 snorkeling spots		 Fish photoshopped
Fish photoshopped		 Coral, greenish
Coral, greenish		 Reddish coral closeup
Reddish coral closeup		 Eel
Eel
My view from the zodiac of some of the 7 snorkelers in our tour
My view from the zodiac of some of the 7 snorkelers in our tour		 Black & yellow angelfish
Black & yellow angelfish		 I got to see fish, too - Mana told me to go to other side of boat, and there were tons there
I got to see fish, too - Mana told me to go to other side of boat, and there were tons there		 Mana also pointed out a dolphin quite close by, but dolphin was gone before I could photograph him. Got good fish pix, though!
Mana also pointed out a dolphin quite close by, but dolphin was gone before I could photograph him. Got good fish pix, though!		 Divers in Tiputa Pass
Divers in Tiputa Pass		 Tom, our guide, from Six Passengers
Tom, our guide, from Six Passengers
Tiputa islet's only tree
Tiputa islet's only tree		 One of new pair of lighthouses on islet, Tiputa Pass. Replaced stone ones.
One of new pair of lighthouses on islet, Tiputa Pass. Replaced stone ones.		 Marina behind snorkel boats, Tiputa Pass
Marina behind snorkel boats, Tiputa Pass		 Ruth & a snorkeler from Austria sat out 1 of 3 snorkels. Actually, I sat out all 3, but still had fun.
Ruth & a snorkeler from Austria sat out 1 of 3 snorkels. Actually, I sat out all 3, but still had fun.		 Howard's view from water - kind of rough swells
Howard's view from water - kind of rough swells		 Tom & Donni (I think) after one of the snorkels. I wanted to snorkel but was sick, and didn't think I'd be able to do it.
Tom & Donni (I think) after one of the snorkels. I wanted to snorkel but was sick, and didn't think I'd be able to do it.
Tom from 6 Pax and Ed (I think) from NC
Tom from 6 Pax and Ed (I think) from NC		 Fish, flippers
Fish, flippers 		Mana, boat pilot, music lover & dolphin spotter extroardinaire
Mana, boat pilot, music lover & dolphin spotter extroardinaire		 Fish
Fish		 Harmless black tipped shark
Harmless black tipped shark		 Fish heading away. Howard loved his camera.
Fish heading away. Howard loved his camera.
One beautiful fish
One beautiful fish		 Howard taking it easy with flotation device. In earlier days, Howard did scuba diving in the U.S., Caribbean & Phillippines.
Howard taking it easy with flotation device. In earlier days, Howard did scuba diving in the U.S., Caribbean & Phillippines.		 Fish were absolutely everywhere at the Aquarium near the islet in Tiputa Pass
Fish were absolutely everywhere at the Aquarium near the islet in Tiputa Pass		 Yellow angel fish in sea of fish
Yellow angel fish in sea of fish		 White fish
White fish		 House on inlet near Six Passengers office, lagoon side of atoll
House on inlet near Six Passengers office, lagoon side of atoll
Texas cruiser, Tom and Mana on zodiac heading out or back to Six Passengers office
Texas cruiser, Tom and Mana on zodiac heading out or back to Six Passengers office		 Friend at The Six Passengers
Friend at The Six Passengers		 At Six Passengers office
At Six Passengers office		 After snorkeling and lunch back on Marina, I went ashore to explore. Found (of course) a church.
After snorkeling and lunch back on Marina, I went ashore to explore. Found (of course) a church.		 Beautiful flowers everywhere
Beautiful flowers everywhere		 Took a water taxi across Pass to where Holland pax were. Not much there, but on the only main road, I passed City Hall
Took a water taxi across Pass to where Holland pax were. Not much there, but on the only main road, I passed City Hall
A pack of stray dogs shared my shady resting spot
A pack of stray dogs shared my shady resting spot		 Typical house next to recycling shed
Typical house next to recycling shed		 Coconuts are everywhere on trees or for sale for $3 (cracked open with straw) by the side of the road
Coconuts are everywhere on trees or for sale for $3 (cracked open with straw) by the side of the road		 The road for cars, bikes & walkers (east side of pass)
The road for cars, bikes & walkers (east side of pass)		 Forget which side of pass this was on, but I found another church - plain with modest hat
Forget which side of pass this was on, but I found another church - plain with modest "hat"		 There was a baptismal font outside
There was a baptismal font outside
Loved the inside
Loved the inside		 Walked behind church & found Pacific Ocean, mom, kid, and dogs (probably stray, but not sure)
Walked behind church & found Pacific Ocean, mom, kid, and dogs (probably stray, but not sure)		 Back on west side, I walked 10 mins. to Pension Josephine with its little waterfront bar. I wasn't a hotel guest, but it was OK.
Back on west side, I walked 10 mins. to Pension Josephine with its little waterfront bar. I wasn't a hotel guest, but it was OK.		 The turn off the main road took me through this canopy of palms to Josephine's
The turn off the main "road" took me through this canopy of palms to Josephine's		 Then I walked along the main road a bit more, by the ocean. So pretty.
Then I walked along the main road a bit more, by the ocean. So pretty.		 Surf on ocean side
Surf on ocean side
One of 3 strange rock lighthouses on the atoll
One of 3 strange rock lighthouses on the atoll		 Beautiful frangipani is everywhere
Beautiful frangipani is everywhere		 Atoll is 2nd largest in world & biggest in French Polynesia
Atoll is 2nd largest in world & biggest in French Polynesia		 Behind the tender boat, a guy in an outrigger canoe was catching the wake of our tender boat
Behind the tender boat, a guy in an outrigger canoe was catching the wake of our tender boat		 It appears we're part of someone's tour!
It appears we're part of someone's tour!		 Tour boat checks out the big cruise ship
Tour boat checks out the big cruise ship
Big waves hitting Rangiroa atoll
Big waves hitting Rangiroa atoll		 Took a walk to dolphin viewing area; no dolphins but were plenty of dropped flowers plus coral; assembled a little still life.
Took a walk to dolphin viewing area; no dolphins but were plenty of dropped flowers plus coral; assembled a little still life.		 Road to Kia Ora just past dolphin viewing area - ATN, tree, and red key hanging on branch
Road to Kia Ora just past dolphin viewing area - ATN, tree, and red key hanging on branch		 Marina anchored off Rangiroa atoll, view from tender pier 8:30 AM
Marina anchored off Rangiroa atoll, view from tender pier 8:30 AM		 Palm trees reminded me of the Dominican Republic - beautiful!
Palm trees reminded me of the Dominican Republic - beautiful!		 Howard with some of Rangiroa's bungalows in background
Howard with some of Rangiroa's bungalows in background
Last look at Rangiroa from ship before leaving
Last look at Rangiroa from ship before leaving 		Time to leave this gorgeous place! Holland Amsterdam got through the pass 1st. Can only safely go through a few times a day.
Time to leave this gorgeous place! Holland Amsterdam got through the pass 1st. Can only safely go through a few times a day. 		Fellow cruiser told me Holland ship she was on last year had to turn around & bypass Rangiroa due to bad timing & currents.
Fellow cruiser told me Holland ship she was on last year had to turn around & bypass Rangiroa due to bad timing & currents.
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joseantonio01-Feb-2016 05:04
such a lovely place.Thank you for sharing.V
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