This was the last day of our trip, and National Geographic Orion made the most of it. It was a fun-filled day at the beach with lots of sun. The day started with an early morning scuba dive for the dive team. As the divers dropped below, everyone else headed to a private motu (island) to relax and snorkel. There were lounge chairs for relaxing and fish and rays to watch from the reef. The hotel department prepared a special treat with a barbecue lunch on the beach. After lunch, there was an opportunity to snorkel with blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). This was a fantastic chance for all the guests to experience how these sharks are a peaceful and necessary part of the ecosystem. What a day!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 08 Mar 2024
Taha’a, French Polynesia, 3/8/2024, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
Adam Maire, Undersea Specialist
Explorers Club Member, Polar Expedition Diver, Naturalist, and Historian, Adam Maire is dedicated to exploring around the globe with a goal of researching, documenting, and teaching others about the beauty, the power and the importance of the earth's...
Read MoreShare Report
Fiji and Tahiti: Vibrant Reefs and Cultural History
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
1/26/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
Ra’iatea Island, French Polynesia
Today, we embarked on a guided hike around Ra’iatea’s revered Marae sites, tracing the island’s profound historical importance as the cradle of the Polynesian Triangle. Enveloped in vivid tropical greens, we discovered intricate stone altars and absorbed the region’s living cultural heritage. We followed the cultural walks with photography walks, as well as natural history walks up a hill to enjoy beautiful views of the turquoise-colored bay.
1/25/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
At Sea
Another day out on the big blue as we transited from the Cook Islands to our final leg of the trip, French Polynesia. As we eagerly awaited some time in the crystal waters of the Society Islands, we had plenty of activities to keep us engaged. Some of us started the day with a stretch class in the gentle early morning sun, while others opted to rest up for the next few days. The day progressed with a series of great talks, tours of the galley, and the occasional seabird drifting by. After dinner we were treated to a National Geographic Orion favorite, our world-renowned crew show - and this was one of the best. A relaxing day at sea turned into a high energy evening with great crew performances and one of the best attended dance parties in ship history. It was a truly memorable end to the day.