Arrival in Aitutaki

With a steep drop off from the islands outer reef, Europa maneuvered her way around the outside of the narrow channel and her team dropped anchor perfectly to allow us easy access to this island paradise.

With the sun high in the sky we looked over the golden beaches, palm tree’s and the multiple variations of the colour blue with our jaws on the deck… reaching this island took teamwork and effort, but the reward is a place with no comparison and soon Europa’s crew would be blown away by this island beauty.

The afternoon was spent inside the world famous lagoon. Likely, the nicest lagoon in the world. We first stopped for a snorkel and an experience with the giant trevally. These huge fish zip in and around us almost too fast for the eye, occasional startling someone by brushing past a leg.

Next a snorkel over the giant clams, though not native, these Australian imports shimmer with a rainbow of colours matched only by the endless coral and reef fish that leave us spellbound and wanting to swim in these warm waters forever. A slow stroll through waist deep water and we’re on shore at Honeymoon Island. Photo’s and words struggle to explain this place, paradise, beauty, tropical, heaven… all things that could be used, but nothing can describe the place better than the smiles on our faces and sun in our hearts as we walk along the golden sand.

One last stop to gently fin around the purple coral, changing colour in the sunlight as we get closer and closer and a final pause on another motu… once again, filling our hearts and leaving us speechless, unable to tell you the feeling of this place and the truly incredible views we saw.