Bora Bora: Breathless Beauty, Shared Tanks & Showerless Soakings
Aranui 5 Family Cruise Blog
Wednesday, November 12th, 2025
Words of Wisdom: Never dive with Zak unless the divemaster has extra air.
Early Birds & Double Dives
Everyone was up early today — even Kirsten (not just me for once). By 8:00 a.m., we were all peeling away in different directions like some kind of family-spread tactical team.
- Kirsten headed out for a circle island shark, ray & cultural tour
- Zak, Teyauna, and I geared up for a two-tank scuba dive
(Yes, that’s right — the whole gang was up and out before most people had even finished their first croissant.)
Dive 1: Where Are the Mantas?
Our first dive was inside the reef, roughly 50 minutes underwater. We didn’t spot any manta rays at first, but just when we were ready to file a formal complaint with Mother Nature, we glided into a cleaning station — and there they were, floating above us like flying carpets of the sea. It was one of those moments where time freezes — and your mask fogs up from awe.
Dive 2: Sharks & Showboating
The second dive took us just outside the reef, where the coral formations were even more vibrant. Zak, meanwhile, decided this was his audition for So You Think You Can Somersault, performing flips, spins, and probably a cartwheel or two.
The problem? Acrobatics and oxygen consumption are not friends. He burned through his tank twice as fast as the rest of us and ended up buddy-breathing off the divemaster’s tank for the last bit. Nothing like a shared regulator and a shark sighting to keep things spicy underwater.
Kirsten’s Cultural Splash Tour
While we were doing synchronized air depletion, Kirsten was having her own best-day-ever on a cultural lagoon cruise. She’s done a few of these in Bora Bora, but this one stood out. The guide didn’t just do the usual shark and ray snorkeling stops — he wove in local legends, cultural insights, and personal stories that gave depth to every splash and swim.
Her verdict? “Best one yet.” And she’s not one to exaggerate.
️ Motu Tapu Picnic – Burgers, Beaches, and Bonus Showers
After our watery adventures, we all reunited on Motu Tapu, a private island out in Bora Bora’s dreamy lagoon.
The Aranui team had pulled off a full beach BBQ picnic, complete with fresh fruit, grilled everything, and even freshwater showers — a surprisingly luxurious touch after getting cozy with reef sharks and BBQ sauce.
The skies stayed mostly cloudy, but the vibe was all sunshine. We wandered, snacked, rinsed off, and just let ourselves be still for a bit on this quiet little slice of paradise.
♂️ Detour to Mama Gloria… and the Sky Opens Up
Later that afternoon, we took the barge to the main island of Bora Bora, with one important mission: visit Mama Gloria.
She’s the lovely local woman who hosted us 18 years ago when we first came to the island — a kind of island grandmother and family friend rolled into one. As always, she greeted us like long-lost family and handed us bananas from her yard, like every good island auntie should.
But just as we started to head back?
Cue the tropical downpour.
It went from drizzle to “we are now in a waterfall” in 30 seconds. No umbrellas. No dry bags. Just us, the bananas, and about four gallons of rain in our shoes. We tried to stay dry for the first 30 seconds. After that, we just surrendered to the soggy truth.
️ Farewell Dinner – Wet but Warm
Back on board (after toweling off both our bodies and our dignity), we joined our new friends for the farewell dinner. There was laughter, hugs, wine (for some), desserts (for many), and story-swapping from across the islands.
Teyauna was posting pics on Instagram, Zak was already telling scuba tales, and Kirsten and I sat there smiling, grateful and maybe just a little misty-eyed (but that might’ve just been the lingering seawater in our ears).
Final Thoughts
Bora Bora delivered in classic dramatic fashion:
- Manta rays above
- Reef sharks below
- Cultural stories around
- And a torrential downpour to soak us into submission
But honestly? That’s island life. Unscripted, unfiltered, unforgettable.