We posted more than a week ago that Makemo was the definition of paradise, after more than a week here (our longest stay of the trip) we can say it has been an amazing experience. When we met the French couple living on the island who sailboat we moored next to, we had no idea we would spend our days diving and exploring with the benefit of local knowledge. We anchored Gray Matter in their front yard, and they were kind of enough to share a few pictures (we are always ready for more boat porn).

View of Gray Matter from our friends’ front yard.

Wednesday May 1st was a holiday here, so with the help of a local panga we made the pass dive at Makemo. It was the first time we have been “flying underwater”. To glide along the bottom looking at coral and fish at close to 5 knots – covering more than a mile in 45 minutes is a unique diving experience.
First drift dive.

Local panga.

Did I say paradise?

Cutting out palm hearts.

Fresh and juicy palm hearts.

A visit to the pearl farm.

We finished the day fishing with the local panga owner, catching two big tuna. That night we had the French couple and the owner of the panga and his wife to Gray Matter for some Ahi Tuna (Christine’s special sauce), and Poisson Cru (local fish dish with coconut), and two bottles of champagne we have been carrying for 5000 miles.

Struggling to hold up these two “petite” tunas, as our local guide called.

Thursday we took a bike ride to the airport which offered a land view of the atoll.

Makemo airport.

Friday afternoon, we hosted local high school students for a tour of Gray matter.

Between Friday and Sunday we made 6 additional dives in Makemo and will upload the video.

We are used to the sight of sharks.

Giant Napoleon fish.

A sleeping fish at night.

Lion fish.

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