Our first day in the Society Islands was one to remember: stunning islands with blue lagoons, beautiful people, sharks, and rays galore. What a day! We visited a vanilla farm and had a chance to do some shopping. We enjoyed the clear water, amazing fish, and curious blacktip reef sharks. We had an iconic Bora Bora afternoon with sunset drinks on the beach in one of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 10 Jun 2023
Taha’a and Bora Bora, 6/10/2023, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
Mike Greenfelder, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Mike learned early on that the best way to escape Ohio was to become a marine biologist. During college at Wittenberg University he attended a semester at Duke University's Marine Lab — that time only confirmed his love for all things oceanic and ma...
Read MoreMaya Santangelo, Undersea Specialist
Maya was born and raised in Southern California, where her curiosity for the natural world was encouraged from an early age. Relocating to Sydney, Australia with her family at 11 years old, she learned to scuba dive, eventually becoming a PADI Instru...
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Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society and Tuamotu Islands
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3/27/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Our magical day started bright and early with a stunning sunrise and a view of the majestic mountains of Bora Bora. Some of us woke up early and were lucky to practice some traditional dancing at our morning’s session of “Ura with Kura.” This was followed by a delicious breakfast and then a presentation about coral from Undersea Specialist Taylor Simpkins. Then a real surprise, a pop-up pearl shop on the back deck where we had the chance to do some shopping from a beautiful selection of local Tahitian black pearls. We set off for our adventure, which included snorkeling amongst all kinds of tropical fish in the coral garden, as well as an amazing visit to a local motu that was absolute paradise. We even had the kayaks and standup paddleboards available. But wait there was more! We also had an incredible BBQ put on by our amazing galley team. While some enjoyed a refreshing swim in the cerulean blue waters, others listened to music performed by local musicians while relaxing in the shade of a palm tree. Today National Geographic Orion was truly in a tropical paradise. What a perfect day!
3/26/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Taha’a & Ra’iatea, Society Islands
We woke up as we were threading through the atoll surrounding Taha’a and Ra’iatea and then we started our day with a visit to a vanilla plantation. Taha’a is famous for the vanilla it produces. Next, we got to snorkel in the beautiful blue water off a private motu (island formed from built up coral debris). After a lovely lunch, we went to a sacred complex called Marae Taputapuatea. This area is recognized by UNESCO for its important cultural heritage. This place is considered one of the central starting points for Polynesian explorers and has much religious significance. After the cultural excursion, we went off on a hike and went birding. Upon returning to the ship, we had cocktail hour and a lovely dinner. To top it off, the crew put on a fantastic show for us after our meal.