water world BY GINA TARNACKI The water surrounding the islands of
French Polynesia shimmers in shades of aqua, teal, and turquoise. While traveling around the islands, it would have been easy to spend most of my day just staring at the hypnotic blues and marveling how the water really was as colorful and beautiful as it looks in pictures. I couldn’t only gaze at it for long, though; the ocean was calling me in, and Paul Gauguin Cruises made it easy to experience thanks to a variety of watersports.
The watersports marina at the back of this amazing vessel opens out right onto the water and serves as the platform for the dive excursions during the cruise, which I would be utilizing in coming days. It also is home to kayaks and paddleboards. On days anchored in port, passengers can use these watercrafts straight from the marina. I marveled at how effortless it was. No lugging heavy equipment down a beach or waiting to check one out. I could just show up during watersport hours, request a kayak
38 2022-23 Paul Gauguin Cruises | Water World
or paddleboard and literally be gliding across that glistening water within minutes of leaving my stateroom. The first item on my pack list for French Polynesia was snorkel gear. I knew I'd be putting it to use in Bora Bora at Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private beach, among other stops. The tip of the beach is shaped like a wide “v” and has a laidback ambiance. I definitely felt on island time, and what better way to spend that time than snorkeling? The lagoon water in Bora Bora is famous because it is practically mind- boggling just how blue, clear and warm it is. The marina staff brought kayaks and paddleboards to the beach in the afternoon and there was no shortage of takers. While gently kicking around in the lagoon just a short distance from shore, I saw a massive crab with fuzzy red legs sticking out from under a cone-shaped shell and dozens of colorful fish. I came across an underwater rock formation when I went out into deeper water and I contentedly stayed
splayed out on the surface, watching the fish dart in and out of the rock crevices while I breathed through my snorkel. I also loved simply floating in the salty lagoon—flipping onto my back to take in views of Bora Bora’s lush green peaks and then onto my stomach to watch through my mask the way the aqua hues beautifully rippled with the light underneath the surface. I also snorkeled while spending the day on Motu Mahana, Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private island located off the coast of Taha’a. Just as I had done in Bora Bora, I disembarked for the day with my gear in hand and staked my claim on a shaded lounge chair (where I did some blissful reading later in the day). After grabbing a bite to eat at the beach barbeque, I was ready to don my mask and flippers and head into the water to swim around, which I did off and on throughout the day, at my leisure. Easy as could be. As fun as snorkeling was in Motu Mahana, my favorite activity I did while on the tiny
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