Ouvéa: Underwater Marvels (and Monsters)

The one day we got out to go snorkelling in Ouvéa, the waters were rough at Mouli Bay. But Laurent couldn't resist and though he nearly got swept away by the surf, he had the immense pleasure of swimming with a ray - a bit like this one:

Video by tiptup29

Thank goodness he did not see this (also found and filmed in Ouvéa) - a leopard shark:

Video by tiptup29

But most surprising of all ... a parrot fish (also found and filmed in Ouvéa):

Video by djenemoa

Somehow Safer: Reef Sharks

Compared to sea snakes, I have to say I find reef sharks that much safer. Okay, I don't have occasion to swim with reef sharks very often (though we did see one while snorkeling at the Phare Amédée), but even so the thought of a swimming snake worries me more. Left, a reef shark that came to visit while on our barrier reef cruise at the Phare Amédée. If you want to see him up close and personal, click on the photo.

More on a day at Phare Amédée. / Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.