#81509 - 07/15/09 12:33 AM
Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
|
Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
A report at tripadviosr mentions that Intercontinental hotel guests can borrow a kayak from the beach at IC Le Moana , and kayak to Coral Gardens to snorkel for free. Although I had been to Bora Bora couple of times but don't know exactly where the Coral Garden is. Is it somewhere behind Sofitel motu? If so, where we can "park" our kayaks? Can anyome tell me?
I guess there are more than one coral garden at Bora Bora. When I joined Lagoonarium excursion, they took me to a place also called Coral Garden which is far away from IC Le Moana, and think that it will take forever to get there by kayak, and the coral garden is in the middle of the lagoon, so it is not possible to park your kayak for snokeling.
Thanks for any comments and advice in advance!
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81510 - 07/15/09 04:15 AM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Peter 2]
|
DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1849
Loc: Denver, Co.
|
If you stand on the main island and look at the Sofitel Motu, the coral garden is on the back right side of the motu. You can park kayaks on the rocky shore of the motu while you snorkel. And it's a great snorkel spot.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81532 - 07/15/09 08:15 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: DenverJoe]
|
Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
Thank you Denver Joe!
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81535 - 07/15/09 08:44 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Peter 2]
|
Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
|
The "other" coral gardens are located between Four Season, St Regis and Meridien and the main island, it is a long way on kayak (when you head out from Moana go "left" so to speak and continue towards airport) the area has quite some boat traffic with staff and guest shuttles crossing from the resorts to the main island and airport shuttles coming and going
_________________________
* with sunshine *
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81539 - 07/16/09 02:32 AM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Poehere]
|
Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
Thanks Poehere! I guess if I want to visit the other coral garden, I can kayak there from IC Thalasso instead of Le Moana, right? Can I also park the kayak on the motu shore? Also thanks for the Teiva tours' email address on the other thread!
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81550 - 07/17/09 01:28 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Peter 2]
|
Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
|
Now if your based at the Thalasso... the one near the St Regis is much closer for you but you should be aware that since the construction of the FS and ST Regis unfortunately there are paths to facilitate (economise gasoline) the shuttle transport of staff from the resorts to their "land bases" which are directly across on the main island as before they had to navigate around the "cardinal marks" placed AROUND the coral gardens and being a very long (gasoline consuming) way they now just cross over...
This means that to venture out on your own I don't know if that is such a good idea, the diving boats and fishermen hook up their boats on the buoys in that area and explore but they're always in groups and know the traffic situation so to speak
_________________________
* with sunshine *
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81569 - 07/18/09 07:09 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Poehere]
|
rodjune
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 1726
Loc: Kalama Valley, HI
|
The term "coral gardens" sort of reminds me of the term "bird isle" on some of the other islands and atolls. It seems that there are always at least two bird isles on every atoll.
Getting back to the original poster, the coral garden on the backside of the Sofitel is nice but so are the coral heads between the pass betwen the Sofitel Motu and the other adjacent motu (but on the Sofitel Motu side). You just have to keep your eye out for boats coming and going but the fish in that area are quite abundant. You might consider taking a freezer ziploc brand bag, fill it with some bread, and cut a tiny corner off one end while snorkeling. You just squeeze out the wet bread little by little to feed the fish.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81740 - 07/26/09 08:30 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: rodjune]
|
Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
Thanks rodjune! I see the motu right next to Sofitel Motu from google map satellite. I see the 2 dark patches, they should be two spots you and Poehere mentioned.
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81741 - 07/26/09 09:58 PM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Peter 2]
|
Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
|
Actually Peter I mean the one across from the St Regis, Le Meridien and Four Season area, when you look at google earth you'll see a very long motu and sort of like forks sticking into the lagoon (OWB's) the first is Thalasso (where you are staying??) , 2nd Le Meridien, star like one is St Regis and above the FS. Between FS and St Regis and the main island is a very popular diving spot. That's the one I was referring to.
I don't want to scare you but last week a tourist got "run over" by a boat, it was the boat's mistake, too fast etc. (the guy is ok fortunately with minor cuts) Just use common sense and make sure whatever you do, that you're visible and not in the main traffic lanes!
_________________________
* with sunshine *
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#81793 - 07/29/09 02:26 AM
Re: Where exactly the Coral Garden is?
[Re: Poehere]
|
Peter 2
Member
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 164
Loc: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
Poehere, I guess I know which snorkeling spot you are talking about. Is it the "dead end corner" area between FS and St Regis?
Yes, we will be staying st IC Thalasso this time, so it will be pretty convenient for us to kayak there. Thanks for reporting the "run over" incidence. It's sad to hear that. We are always very cautious when snorkeling and sometimes when needed we even wave our arms and hands high before boats getting too close to us. One time in Maldives a driver in a speedboat saw me waving hands and came close to us in a reduced speed and asked us if we needed any help. I told the boat driver that I waved hand to make sure he saw me. I thought it was better for him to misunderstand me (He probably thought I was drowning or being eaten alive by sharks, lol) than got rolled over by a speedboat. lol
Edited by Peter 2 (07/29/09 02:28 AM)
_________________________
member of TFPC (Tahitian Flu Patients' Club) LOL...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BarbiJKM, hamara, DenverJoe, Poehere
|
6653 Members
15 Forums
10176 Topics
90579 Posts
Max Online: 98 @ 03/09/11 04:15 PM
|
|
1 registered
(Patti.)
and 10 anonymous users online.
|
|
|
