The Travel Group

If you are fortunate enough to go to Bora Bora, be sure to do a circle island tour. Seven years ago, on my 2nd trip to Tahiti, I did this trip. It's great as you will see different views of mount Otemanu on the main island of Vaitape. The most memorable part was when our tour boat pulled up in a small pass between 2 motus. They tied up, and we all clambered off to the beach. Almost instantly, 3 tame sting rays came to the edge of shore. Our guides introduced us to Kinky, Softy and Holly. Stingrays like to rub up against your skin. We all took turns kneeling in a foot of water and the rays swam up over our backs. Not scary at all! Then we all got our snorkelling gear on, and swam up the pass to a magnificent coral garden. Best part of that swim, is that the stingrays came with us! Honestly, it felt like taking your dogs for a walk. They stayed with us in the coral garden, then swam back. It was so amazing to share their world. They hung around in the shallows while we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the beach. When we got back in the water, an eel came out of its lair to investigate. Personally I think eels get a bad rap due to their rather fearsome appearance, but any I have encountered were really quite gentle and as curious about us as we are about them.

After lunch, the guides fed the leftovers to some black tipped reef sharks. I think they should feed themselves! We said goodbye to our 3 friends, and went to a sand bar in the middle of the lagoon, where we swam with about 20 or stingrays. That was a good experience as well, on a different level though, than our afternoon with Kinky, Softy and Holly. That memory will stay with me forever. Another bit of magic in beautiful Bora Bora.