Anaa, French Polynesia, 2/6/2025, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
The welcoming energy of Anaa was in the air as we were greeted with kind eyes, warm smiles, chilled coconuts, and a vibrant musical band. The locals demonstrated their amazing skill of javelin throwing. Many of us tried it for ourselves which was followed by a relaxing swim in the lagoon. It was a magical last day of our inspiring and beautiful journey here in French Polynesia.
Karen Velas cares deeply about protecting the environment and its wildlife. Over the last 15 years, she has been involved with numerous conservation projects, including working as the Lead Project Coordinator on the California Condor Project with Th...
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Today’s location for exploration was the atoll of Tahanea. The reefs surrounding some small sandy islands near the entrance to the inner lagoon became our home for water-based activities involving kayaks, snorkeling, swimming, and island exploration. The nearby passage controls a large flow of water in and out of the lagoon on the movement of the tides, and consequently supports healthy coral reefs and a rich diversity of marine life. The day was ours to enjoy and relax at our own pace, with the variety of activities on offer and sunshine to embrace. The evening was capped off by the famous National Geographic Orion crew show!
This morning, we set out on early morning water operations to maximize the ideal tides coming through one of the two passes around the Fakarava Atoll. The divers cracked it early and the first round of snorkelers were in the water by 7am. Drift snorkeling in a pass is an advanced snorkel, as the currents ripping through there can quickly carry you in a direction you don’t want to go. All the groups stayed together and were able to climb back into their Zodiacs with a little encouragement as the current swept us swiftly. Returning to National Geographic Orion for breakfast, we then prepared to explore more of the lagoon, Pink Sand Beach, and “The Pool”. Every activity was wonderful and the snorkeling some of the best many of us have ever done. We saw so many sharks and some huge Maori/Napoleon wrasse and titan triggerfish among many schools of smaller fish. It was an amazing full day in the incredible blue lagoon, the second largest in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
