At 6 am I recognized that ship is not rocking! We were already in the lagoon protected from the wind and ocean waves. Soon we docked in one of two settlements on Rangiroa – Ohotu. Rangiroa is the biggest atoll in Tuamotu Archip. – 80 kms long and 40 kms wide. Only northern motus are inhabited – few of them between Ototu and second settlement – Avitoru are connected by bridges. No wonder that having 6 hours to explore I decided to walk to the other village. The only, 15 kms road goes along the ocean’s coast. In Avatoru there is catholic church to see with great St Mary’s grotto decorated by pearl shells. If you are able to survive the heat you can camp here for just 14 USD per night. I met nice people and had opportunity to take some good pictures. Mid way between Avatoru and Ohotu there is airstrip with daily flights to PPT. Quite big amount of rich tourists fly here to dive and snorkel. Locals offer 1 hour boat rides to so called natural aquarium, where you can see plenty of fish (1000 CFP pp). But I saw yellow sharks in this transporent water even from the ship. Dolphins were jumping along for goodbye when we were sailing out of the Tiputa Passage to the ocean.
