So there is this super narrow 10' wide, shallow 3' deep, and super wiggly, pass that leads into the atoll. When you arrive one of the three local families host you. And they take you in and out through the pass with their high-speed aluminum boat. Today I decided to try it myself. I put all the children into lifejackets, (did I mention there are giant breaking waves also?) and shot over to the pass, all looked good so I started zipping right on in. All was well except that the tiny pass ended with just white water flowing off the reefs, and a set of white rapids where I remembered that the pass was supposed to be. I spun the dingy around only to find that the waves were starting to return and the inlet was filled with a large wave. With nowhere else to go we shot the wave! All the children thought it was fun. For me, not so much.
Then later this afternoon just Integrity and I went over, and with the tide being lower the coral edges of the pass were easy to locate and we entered without incident! After that I ferried in the entire family.
Now came the fun part! leaving! It was a few hours later, and the tide was in again. The big waves were about 12 feet high! Our host said he would take the family, so just Cassidy and I were in the dingy. When we got to the pass these huge waves were rolling in the whole length of the pass and into the lagoon. Both of us quickly reversed our way back up the channel to where we could handle the rollers without flooding! After about 5 minutes of waiting the host boat motor stalled. They were being quickly sucked into the rollers. Fortunately they were able to get it re-started. I was glad I had a Honda outboard! We finally shot the pass on the heels of the host boat only going airborne once. What a ride!
Courage
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