Although we windsurfed in Bonaire, the following information would be useful to kiteboarders as well.

We arrived in Tahiti in the afternoon. We stayed at a Sheraton in Tahiti for two days before flying to Bora Bora for six days. I stood on the edge of a dock and looked about 75 feet down into the clear water and saw all kinds of fish at different levels. I went to get my snorkel gear but, as I walking past the front desk, the woman behind the desk asked me what I was going to do. When I told her I was going snorkeling, she said "Oh, I wouldnÕt swim there. That waterÕs dirty!" I couldn't believe my ears.

We flew to Bora Bora and couldn't believe the scenery we saw on the way. We stayed in a hut over the water at the Pearl Beach resort. This was without a doubt the most beautiful water we have ever seen. There are colors in that water that didnÕt even look real.

We didn't go to Bora Bora to sail, but to our surprise, there were two rigs at Pearl Beach. The wind was very marginal but when you're hookedÉ We drifted around while huge stingrays shadowed our boards. Some locals told us that in the winter, the wind is good and kiteboarding is becoming very popular. If you go to sail, this would probably be the best time and I can't imagine a more beautiful place to do it.

The food was mostly French and very tasty, however, I was shocked to be served canned peaches instead of fresh fruit. I love fresh tropical fruit but, believe it or not, it's seasonal in Tahiti. We took a boat to the main island for dinner several times. We also rented a small car and toured the island one day. The stick shift broke off in my hand. I managed to shift it with my fingers to limp back to the rental shop. Can you believe I had to pay for it?

We took some incredible snorkeling trips. One day we took a large catamaran to see manta rays and snorkel at a place called The Coral Gardens. This is not for the squimish. The water is about two feet from the coral. They take you out in a raft to the starting area. You need to fall flat out of the raft in a spread eagle position. The strong current propels you swiftly down the gardens and back towards the catamaran. It felt like we were flying. We were the only people on board who elected to do it again.

It can be very expensive, but If you ever get a chance to go to Bora Bora, you will not regret it.