After yesterday's failed snorkelling attempt, we decided to check out this place called 'Lagoonarium' that we saw in the Tahiti/Moorea brochure you can get here. It looks really touristy and crowded in its advertisement, so we weren't super keen on it, but it ended up being one of the best experiences so far on my trip. The snorkelling there bested even the great Galapagos.
We were expecting to basically be motored out to a good snorkelling spot and just getting dropped off for a few hours (as we didn't read into the Lagoonarium at all before going). What actually happens is, it's an all-day sort of thing. They motor you out to their little private island where you are greeted by some very friendly people and the island's dogs.
They take you for a short tour of the island before letting you run free.
Each party gets their own private little hut for the day to store items or to get out of the sun if need be.
There is a bar/kitchen area where they have free coffee/tea/water for everyone (no booze though, you have to bring your own), and they supply you with lunch.
And then there are really cool little sitting areas everywhere with hand-made furniture out of various pieces of driftwood.
And then finally, the island is surrounded by rich reefs that are densely populated with a huge variety of different fish, rays, eels, sharks. It's like being in a natural aquarium. They have a huge network of ropes that float along the surface, so you can pull yourself along and not have to swim against the current (the current is rather strong here). If snorkelling is not your thing, they also have free kayaks for your use.
And now for the snorkelling, there was this one ray that was almost like a pet to them.
He would swim right up to you, climb up on you, and allow you to pet him.
And here he is petting me.
There were huge schools of fish everywhere, surrounding you.
And the odd isolated unique looking fish.
And of course, my favourite, sharks. 
It started with just one shark hanging around, but by the end we had dozens swimming around us.
I even got to pet an Eel.
The crazy guy who worked there would hang on to the sting ray who would propel him around the reef. Unbelievable.
It was like God's aquarium in there.
We had a short break where they showed us different types of starfish. This one is really good for the reefs, eats all the junk off the ground. It is called a 'shark's pillow'.
He kept wanting me to touch everything.
This next one is bad as it eats the reef itself. It is also highly poisonous.
And just when you thought all the fun was over and you were being shuttled back, they bust out the body-boards.
And this was all for just $25.00 per person!! They could have been charging $100 a head for the experience. Saying it is a good-value excursion is a grotesque understatement. I could not recommend it enough to anyone visiting Moorea!
We also were treated to an amazing panoramic viewpoint on the way back. This is a view of the east side of the island.
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