It is now 9:43 a.m. local time on the island of Moorea, and it is raining. Hard. We are perfectly dry under our thatched roof on the patio of our overwater bungalow. Off in the distance is the Paul Gaugin tour ship, sailboats, and mountain peaks, obscured by rain. I've just snorkeled off our dock, a pleasant 15 minute glide over shoulder high waters. I managed to step out just before the deluge.
Now I ask for your indulgence as I peruse my water resistant snorkeling guide, Les Poisson de Tahiti, and list all the fish of Tahiti I have seen so far, in no particular order.
Moorfish Idols,
Whitebanded Triggerfishs,
Flutemouths,
Black Triggerfishs (hundreds, swimming with black tipped sharks),
Scissor-Tail Sergeants,
Banded Sereant (easily confused with Scissor-Tail Sergeants),
Firefish (the fins end in spikes, not to be touched!),
Puffer fish of various kinds,
Black-tipped sharks,
Manta rays,
Spotted eagle rays,
Stingrays,
Snappers (I think),
Squaretail Mullets (they look like they're swimming upside down),
Flounders (white, and beneath the stingrays),
Flying Gurnard (yes, they fly out of the water),
Threadfin Butterflyfish,
Greasy groupers,
and many more not in my guide that I hope to identify, like the guy above.
p.s. I must add green sea turtles, and sea cucumbers, though they are not fish.
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