Flying Fish ArticlesBora Bora Lagoon – 16°31.47'S, 151°46.31'W [GPS WGS84 position]
Andy Thornton, 31 December 2009
Bora Bora 's offshore reef lies at least one mile from the nearest land on the south west corner. This is marked by a light. The entrance to the lagoon is on the western side and is clearly marked with port and starboard markers, IALA A system. In general, the water within the lagoon is very deep, in excess of 25 metres, and shallower areas and reefs are clearly seen. The position given in this report is of Baie Tehou on the western side of the most western motu (coral island) where we anchored in 5 metres over sand. In general, passages within the lagoon, provided care is taken, are straightforward.
Moorings are available at the Bora Bora Yacht Club (16 29.51 S, 151 45.69 W) and at Bloody Mary 's (16 31.6 S, 151 44.7 W). The former was 2,000 CPF per day, or 5,000 CPF for the week. Those at Bloody Mary 's were free, although there was an expectation that you would have at least one meal in the restaurant - excellent food, though pricy, as was all eating out in French Polynesia. The village has ATMs, supermarkets and a wide variety of tourist-type shops. It is possible to go alongside at the wharf when clearing out.
A walk to the top of the westernmost hill is very interesting, if a bit of a pull, but should not be undertaken in wet weather as the last section to the top is very steep - there are ropes to assist you to ascend in several places. Also of interest are the two canon, relics of the Napoleonic Wars.
The annual Haeva, held in July, is a week-long festival of song and dance. It is by the locals and for the locals so is far more interesting than any tourist shows, even if the performances are slightly less polished than those done by professionals.
Sadly the recession in Western Europe and the United States has severely reduced the number of visitors to Bora Bora and other islands, so many of the resorts are empty. Sadly, too, the locals seem to have been pushed out of the way, but it is worth taking to the back streets to meet and talk with them.