Steve's Genealogy Blog

Sea life in Bora Bora could be observed not only swimming past the glass panels in the bottom of the boat, but also swimming beside the boat and in the water itself. The boat made two stops, one to see the sharks (Black-Tip Reef Sharks and Lemon Sharks) and one to see the stingrays (and other fishes). The stingrays I observed were Pink Whiprays. Among the fish I saw were Convict Tangs and Latticed Sandperches.

Black-Tip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

SOURCE: Black-Tip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Pink Whipray (Himantura fai)

SOURCE: Pink Whipray (Himantura fai) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016

Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)

SOURCE: Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016

Latticed Sandperch (Parapercis clathrata)

SOURCE: Latticed Sandperch (Parapercis clathrata) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

No, this article has nothing to do with the 1966 movie starring Doris Day and Rod Taylor, although now that I’ve written that, Google will probably link to this article as if it were about the movie.

The glass bottom boat I’m talking about is a tourist boat in Bora Bora (one of several, I’m sure) that allows visitors to observe sharks and sting rays through glass panels in the bottom of the boat. Well, I not only rode in the glass bottom boat, I was allowed to drive it!

You can trust Captain Steve

SOURCE: You can trust Captain Steve (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed for Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris)

SOURCE: Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

While most eyes were viewing the sea creatures, magnificent frigatebirds and great crested terns wheeled about in the skies above, looking for lunch.

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

SOURCE: Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

SOURCE: Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

I arrived at Bora Bora at about noon on April 7, 2016. The first view as the ship approached the island was magnificent. It’s no wonder that Bora Bora is such a popular destination in the South Pacific.

Bora Bora

SOURCE: Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Bora Bora is surrounded by an atoll, a chain of small islets made of coral and sand. The small islets are called motus and are generally just a few meters higher than sea level. Around Bora Bora, however, some of the motus are actually volcanic in nature, including Motu Toopua where the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa is located. Overwater villas at the Hilton cost more than US$1,000 per night. I did not stay there.

Motu Toopua

SOURCE: Motu Toopua (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa

SOURCE: Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Detail of Overwater Villas at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa

SOURCE: Detail of Overwater Villas at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

Rangiroa is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago (not the Society Islands like Moorea or Tahiti). It has no majestic mountains, but it is famed as a great diving destination. I, however, did not have much luck with snorkeling in Rangiroa because I just couldn’t keep water from filling up my mask. I guess I should have shaved that morning <sheepish grin>. All photos were taken with an Olympus TG-4 camera (waterproof to 50 ft / 15 m).

Steve in Rangiroa

SOURCE: Steve in Rangiroa (Rangiroa, French Polynesia); photographed for Stephen J. Danko on 06 April 2016.

Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus)

SOURCE: Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus) (Rangiroa, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 06 April 2016.

Double-Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis)

SOURCE: Double-Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) (Rangiroa, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 06 April 2016.

Scissortail Sergeant Damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)

SOURCE: Scissortail Sergeant Damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus) (Rangiroa, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 06 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

The islands of French Polynesia are covered in lush vegetation, much of which is not native. The first Polynesians brought with them plants from their native lands, and the Europeans brought with them even more non-native plants. Today, most of the flowing plants in Moorea and the neighboring islands are non-native.

Coral Hibiscus (Hibiscus schizopetalus)

SOURCE: Coral Hibiscus (Hibiscus schizopetalus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior)

SOURCE: Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

SOURCE: Pineapple (Ananas comosus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata)

SOURCE: Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

I’m not an experienced snorkeler and I was amazed at the number of different species of fishes I saw in the reefs of Moorea. I’m also not all that skilled at fish taxonomy. If anyone spots an error in identification, please let me know! The underwater photos were taken with an Olympus TG-4 camera (waterproof to 50 ft / 15 m).

Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)

SOURCE: Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Peacock Damselfish (Pomacentrus pavo)

SOURCE: Peacock Damselfish (Pomacentrus pavo) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Banded Sergeant Damselfish (Abudefduf septemfasciatus)

SOURCE: Banded Sergeant Damselfish (Abudefduf septemfasciatus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Surge Damselfish (Chrysiptera brownriggii)

SOURCE: Surge Damselfish (Chrysiptera brownriggii) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

Moorea is part of the Society Islands archipelago which, in turn, is part of French Polynesia. French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, although I heard residents repeatedly refer to French Polynesia as a country.

As an archipelago, the Society Islands lie in an expanse that is mostly water. As such, aquatic activities, such as snorkeling, is popular there. The first snorkeling excursion I participated in while in French Polynesia took place off the coast of Moorea.

Moorea Snorkeling Site

SOURCE:  Moorea Snorkeling Site (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

My guide was prepared to attract sharks, stingrays, and other fish by throwing chum into the water, and attract them he did.

Black-Tip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

SOURCE: Black-Tip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

The black-tip reef sharks I saw were not aggressive towards the humans in the water, being more interested in the chum. Several came close enough that I could have touched them. My guide warned against trying to touch the sharks and I heeded his warning.

Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)

SOURCE: Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

The butterflyfish were much less intimidating.

Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)

SOURCE: Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

I just returned home from a trip to French Polynesia, my first visit to this part of the world. The first stop on my travels was the island of Moorea, just a short distance from the more familiar island of Tahiti.

From beautiful Opunohu Bay, one can view several peaks on this volcanic island. With it’s roots in the bay and rising out of the photo to the left in Mount Rotui. The tall, cloud-shrouded peak to the right of Mount Rotui is Mount Tohiea, the highest peak in Moorea. The flat topped peak to the right of Mount Tohiea is the Belvedere Lookout, and to the right of that is Mount Mouaroa.

Mount Mouaroa served as the island of Bali Hai in the book and movie South Pacific.

Opunohu Bay

SOURCE:  Opunohu Bay (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Spinner dolphins play in the waters of Opunohu Bay.

Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris)

SOURCE:  Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris) (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Opunohu Bay is just as beautiful when seen from the peaks above.

Opunohu Bay from Above

SOURCE:  Opunohu Bay from Above (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Moorea becomes even more intriguing as a storm approaches. Opunohu Bay can be seen in the view below. Mount Rotui, which separates Opunohu Bay and Cook’s Bay, is on the right of the photo, capped by the stormclouds.

Approaching Storm

SOURCE:  Approaching Storm (Moorea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko