February 15, 2023 05:25PM
Stayed at Kia Ora, which was outstanding.. Dove the famous and absolutely NUTS dive called "Shooting the Tiputa Pass".. Kia Ora is in the inside of the lagoon.. it takes 4 days for the current to leave the lagoon and the water actually goes down several feet on the beach.. then every 4th day ALL the water comes rushing back into the lagoon, so you hitch a boat ride outside the lagoon, jump in, go down 30 feet and ride the water in the lagoon at about 30mph.. its absolutely insane.. as you hit the fastest part of current, a wall of sharks is lined up to pickoff the fish who can't fight the current.. you pile drive right through the wall..

Oceanic White tips are in Rangiro and I tried to get the guide to take us to dive with them, but he was legitimately afraid of them and wouldn't take me.. There's another dive called Hammerhead Alley and he wouldn't take me there, either..

Yeah, the Sauvage is still there on the other side of the lagoon.. for those who don't know, the lagoon is so large you can't see the other side where the Sauvage is.. in 2006 they still didn't have electricity.. back then they had a 3 legged dog who lost a paw to a Blacktip.. Anyways, the entire lagoon consists of a land mass totally round that is about 100 yards wide.. lagoon on one side, TOTAL WILDNERNESS OCEAN on the other.. it was like being on the moon.. anyways, it was a VERY large volcano that sunk into the ocean - only the upper rim is still sticking out of the water.. Its only 6 foot above sea level at its highest point.. We were in a tsunami warning when we were there.. there would have been NOWHERE to run if we had one.. we'd have all been killed, most likely..

Here's some pics i shot in Rangiroa in 2006.. First one is Kia Ora on the lagoon side, the last is the outside - where i said it was like being on the moon.. thats my wife in the pic..


I really didn't like Tahiti, myself.. but we didn't go to any of the more deserted beaches.. it was poor, but really built up - too much concrete for me.. One beach had black sand, tho.. pretty cool..







Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..


SubjectAuthorViewsPosted

  Any of you World travelers ever been to Midway Island?

Ramgator305February 14, 2023 02:00PM

  No, sure haven't...

sstrams72February 14, 2023 02:05PM

  really???

ferragamo79103February 14, 2023 06:14PM

  Geesh! Did you REALLY think I was talking about a Romantic getaway???

Ramgator96February 15, 2023 01:42AM

  ROTFLMAO !!!!

RAMbler93February 15, 2023 10:21AM

  no I know

ferragamo7961February 15, 2023 11:45AM

  Love this topic... or rather...

JamesJM56February 15, 2023 12:31PM

  Germany Attachments

IowaRam71February 15, 2023 01:18PM

  On behalf of England....

JamesJM57February 15, 2023 02:31PM

  Never been..

sstrams188February 15, 2023 02:53PM

  No, you have it right....

JamesJM60February 15, 2023 07:05PM

  Maybe not quite as mysterious as the great pyramid's

IowaRam58February 16, 2023 01:32PM

  Everything the ancients built is a mystery to me...

JamesJM57February 16, 2023 01:39PM

  Its a mystery, for sure..

sstrams59February 16, 2023 03:05PM

  If you do Tahiti...

sstrams54February 15, 2023 01:23PM

  Re: If you do Tahiti...

waterfield64February 15, 2023 05:01PM

  Yeah, we did Rangiroa in 2006... Attachments

sstrams55February 15, 2023 05:25PM

  Beautifull photos Steve

waterfield52February 15, 2023 06:11PM

  Yeah the restaurant was over

sstrams56February 16, 2023 02:29AM

  I consulted my own photo..

sstrams157February 17, 2023 06:32AM

  Rangiroa for anyone interested..... Attachments

sstrams59February 16, 2023 02:49AM

  amazing place, and photos....

JamesJM65February 17, 2023 05:20AM

  Well, you could explore that strip..

sstrams52February 17, 2023 06:26AM

  Almost

waterfield80February 15, 2023 04:33PM

  I read the book "Sole Survivor" by Ens George Gay.

Ramgator80February 17, 2023 02:38AM

  Yeah, its crazy clear in the depths..

sstrams52February 17, 2023 03:27AM

  Crazy. I had no idea it could be THAT clear THAT far.

Ramgator71February 17, 2023 06:39AM

  Yeah, man screws up everything he touches..

sstrams85February 17, 2023 06:53AM

  SST...I hear the places you like..The Bars / Watering Holes....

Ramgator193February 17, 2023 02:17PM