FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF ACEANS #3 : Blue holes of Vanuatu

The kayak and its silence, what better tandem to raise the tranquility of these rivers? A few paddles take me to the mouth of the "Blue River". Here, children play in the water, adults cook, and Melanesian hospitality quickly translates into a spontaneous invitation to share a picnic on the shore.

* * * * *

The belly is full, it is time to really enter the heart of this river. The first few hundred meters give the sensation of being in a mangrove. The river remains wide enough, the mangroves are the masters of the place. Some vestiges of the second war still occupy the banks.

Source http://www.photo-sousmarine.com

* * * * *

Below the surface, the combination of fresh and salt water gives a vitreous appearance over the first twenty centimeters of depth. Then the river narrows, and the water begins to show all its purity. Gradually, the surface plants cover the stream, the trees cover the surface plants, the orchids cover the trees, the birds cover the orchids, and all this symbiosis is discovered to my eyes in absolute calm. The water is cool, but the opportunity for a pure water bath is too beautiful to be ignored. A glance under the water and it will be total astonishment. The water that appeared so clear and transparent seen vertically, begins to appear then blue horizontally. From parts and others appear some deeper areas becoming totally blue as soon as the layer of water exceeds 3m of depth. My photo box is never far, I hasten to take it in hand and I lost two good hours crouched in 50cm of water to try to capture these moments of pure sweetness. The riverbed is now completely closed. The surface plants draw the only path that can be borrowed by the kayak. A few vines fall from the tallest trees, further blocking the horizon. And then, at the end of a last corner, everything suddenly opens. Here, the river has its source in a 12m deep pool, the sun finally has a window to pass, the conditions are met to dazzle the whole area a supernatural blue. Swimming is once again on the program to observe some tropical fish different from their coral reef neighbors, as well as the many shells scattered all over the rocky bottom of the basin.

* * * * *

More about VANUATU on this complete report here: https://steemit.com/traveldigest/@marc-allaria/de-l-autre-cote-des-oceans-3-les-trous-bleus-du-vanuatu-partie-1

Photography copyrighted ©Marc ALLARIA - www.photo-sousmarine.com