Bora Bora today. Another one of those places that I've have read about, seen in travel brochures and looked forward to visiting. I am delighted to be here!

We found a favourite table for breakfast in the fresh air and noticed a slight change in the air as Ring, the waitress sprung into action nearby.

I turned around to see what was going on. “Quick, quick…the rain is coming!”

Shortly afterwards, as we rode the tender over to the jetty all was fine again, though those returning from the island had been caught in the storm and were a little damp (that's an English understatement 😉)

We were greeted on board the catamaran that was going to take us out into the lagoon, to swim and snorkel.

As we set sail, another rainstorm was approaching. More tropical weather.

We sailed past one of those classic Bora Bora sights; a collection of over-water bungalows which were part of the Conrad-Hilton resort.

As we sailed, the number of shades of blue multiplied with the addition of the white surf over the reef.

After an hour or so, we reached our swimming spot where the water was just too deep to stand, but from where it was possible to snorkel into a shallower area to see a greater variety of sea life.

Without a waterproof camera (yes, should have brought one of those!) the pictures are only in my memory, but the water was cool and fresh and the experience certainly one of those blissful moments I won’t forget.

Returning to the jetty, I spotted a small hut on the horizon: a fisherman's hut said our captain. Somewhere they can stop, leave nets and stuff safely. No, it wasn't the most exclusive bungalow of the Conrad Hilton collection 😉

As we passed other small, peaceful beaches, I thought how lovely to spend an hour or two there. But how would one reach them? Possibly that's why they are so peaceful.

Staying overnight at anchor in Bora Bora meant that we had another opportunity to enjoy one of those experiences that we heard everyone talking about.

As we took the tender over to the jetty again - this is becoming quite the daily habit - we spotted the catamaran off our again with today's swimmers and snorkellers. Our bright blue boat was waiting there in the harbour for six of us. Seeing an empty space in there, one of the Destinations team on board Mariner jumped in with us. It was a great opportunity for her to experience some of the fun as well.

This time, we sped past Mariner, out towards the reef, taking a more direct route than yesterday.

I just couldn't help but take more photos of those colours. Breathtaking blue.

Our small blue boat had a glass bottom, so when Nicholson, our captain slowed right down over the first spot on his plan, he was able to point out the coral beneath us.

He'd passed around waterproof reference cards to assist with identifying the fish and the coral we spotted.

As we looked at these great references, we were moving on to our next spot in somewhat shallower waters.

Meanwhile another grey cloud appeared and the rain started!

I was planning to get wet anyway, but had planned to have dry clothes to put on afterwards. Time for swimwear, then.

Time too for some wildlife spotting - a large group of rays were swimming effortlessly beneath us, gracefully moving with the merest ripple of their wings.

These were Spotted Eagle Rays we learned and we tried hard to see their spotted markings. But it proved tricky to see them and impossible to capture in a photograph through that thick glass. Still, we'd seen our first rays.

We were now moving again, into still shallower water by the reef where, we were told, Manta Rays had been seen earlier in the day.

Wow! Yes…no sooner had we stopped than one swam beneath us. “She” - for Nicholson had identified her as female, swam around and underneath us for some time as we watched and marvelled at the beauty of her movement.

Manta Rays could have three or four metres wingspan, we learned and though this was a smaller one with maybe two or three, no sooner had we prepared to move on than another couple of rays came and joined them, one of which was huge, possibly of the four metre size.

As we watched, trying to see both through the glass bottom and over the side of the boat at the same time, juggling camera and reference card whilst keeping our balance in the rocking boat, the female ray did a spectacular “flypast” beneath the glass bottom, turning as she did to reveal her gills and pale coloured underside. Wow. One of our party snapped the perfect photo - sadly mine is in my head as frequently happens.

A welcome party of fish was there to greet us when we arrived at our swimming/snorkelling spot.

They had company too, in the form of black tipped reef sharks.

Yes, I did - and yes, I lived to tell the tale, all limbs intact!

After twenty minutes or so, we were ready for home and one last stop above a spectacular area of the coral reef.

I loved the clams, which were opening and closing gently, bringing the reef to life. Small black fish were in crevices here and there and bright yellow and black butterfly fish swam past from time to time.

“We have ten more minutes drifting time”, we were told, so made the most of those minutes to take a last look at the world beneath us. Branching coral, brain coral and colours which appeared brighter at the time than they do in my photos.

Eventually the chug of the engine began again and we sped back to the jetty.

What a marvellous way to remember Bora Bora!