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Date: 15 Apr 2008 10:06:00
Title: Manihi Atoll, Tuamoto Islands
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15:04.05S 146:05.00W

We arrived at Manihi on 15th April after three and a half days at sea. We had to motor sail for the first 24 hours but the wind strengthened & we sailed in sun and showers for the rest of the journey. The Tuamotos have been called the "Low and Dangerous Archipelago " because they are difficult to see until relatively close too, are surrounded by coral reefs & have passes into the lagoons which are dangerous at certain states of the tide. We were pleased to be guided through the pass by a local pearl fisherman who showed us to a safe anchorage and later in our visit organized a beach picnic with freshly speared fish and a visit to his pearl farm. The highlight of our stay in this beautiful undeveloped lagoon was watching how the pearl oysters are farmed and particularly how the oysters are seeded to create black pearls. We bought a bushel of oysters and it was thrilling to open them and find the pearls. A rather more
uncomfortable thrill was when one crew member had an octopus wrap itself around her ankle and another crew member was bitten on the ear while she was snorkelling by a Remora fish.

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