Suwarrow Photos Page 2

Here is a second page of photos from Suwarrow. Suwarrow, also known as Suvarov is an isolated atoll located between the Northern and Southern Cook Islands. The atoll is a National Park belonging to the Cook Islands. The only way to visit this little slice of paradise is to arrive in your own boat. There is a Park caretaker and his family resident there for five months of the year. They live a very simple life and welcomed us into their home and their lives for an unforgettable experience.

Hover over an image to see a description. Click on an image to see it enlarged.

Jul '09 - Anchorage Island anchorage - click to enlargeAug '09 - Entrance Island - click to enlargeJul '09 - Anchorage Island beach - click to enlarge

The reef that rings the atoll is truly amazing. For the most part, it lies just below the surface waiting to catch unwary boats. It is quite wide and does a fantastic job of breaking the strength of approaching swells. At low tide when there is just a few inches of water over the reef, it makes a great place to explore. At night the dents in the surface of the reef are home to tasty lobsters. On the ocean side of the reef, the depth plummets to over 1,000 feet within a quarter of a mile making it feel like you’re standing at the edge of the world.

Jul '09 - Fishing boat wreck on the reef - click to enlargeJul '09 - Fishing boat wreck on the reef - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Standing on the ringing reef; a few feet away it drops to great depths - click to enlargeJul '09 - The wide ringing reef ranges from 2 inches to a few feet underwater depending on the tide - click to enlargeJul '09 - Standing on the ringing reef; looking in towards a motu - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Fishing boat wreck on the reef - click to enlargeJul '09 - Wreck on the reef facing towards the lagoon - click to enlarge

Aug '09 - Entrance Island - Fairy terns - click to enlargeAug '09 - Entrance Island - Fairy terns - click to enlargeAug '09 - Entrance Island - Fairy terns - click to enlarge

Love these coconut crabs which look like a large combination of crab and lobster wearing tie-dye colours. I also like to borrow a term from Stephen King and call them lobstrosities.

Jul '09 - Coconut crab - click to enlargeJul '09 - Coconut crab in a coconut palm tree - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Seven Islands - Moorish idol - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Longnose butterflyfish - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Moorish idol - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Coconut crab - click to enlargeJul '09 - Coconut crab - click to enlarge

John, his wife Veronica and their four boys live in Suwarrow for five months every year. They are the caretakers representing the National Park. You couldn’t ask for more gracious hosts. They gladly share this very special place with the crews of all the cruising boats that pass through each year. We made some very special memories in this place and many of them feature the Samuela family.

Jul '09 - Veronica & John - click to enlargeJul '09 - John & Veronica's house (and the gathering place) on Anchorage Island - click to enlargeJul '09 - Veronica's birthday party - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Anchorage Island path - click to enlargeJul '09 - New sign at the shark feeding spot - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Party on Anchorage Island - click to enlargeJul '09 - Veronica's birthday party - click to enlargeJul '09 - Party on Anchorage Island - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Achilles Tang - click to enlargeJul '09 - Achilles Tang - click to enlarge

The boys on the island put on quite a show each day near sunset. They gather together all the fish scraps from the day’s catch and then call the sharks in to a specific spot well away from places where people swim or anchor. It’s really quite impressive to see this array of black and white tip and gray reef sharks swim in close enough to touch for the resulting feast.

Jul '09 - Evening shark feeding in the pass - click to enlargeJul '09 - Evening shark feeding in the pass - click to enlargeJul '09 - Evening shark feeding in the pass - click to enlarge

Jun '09 - Seven Islands - Great visibility - click to enlargeJun '09 - Seven Islands - Wonderful coral formations - click to enlargeJun '09 - Seven Islands - Coral formations - click to enlarge

An interesting couple of photos below. Susan really enjoyed learning some simple palm frond weaving from Veronica. What every Cook Islander knows how to do from early childhood took some time to master. Every day at Seven Islands included a snorkel trip. The second photo is of the standard collection of feet in our dinghy on the way to the day’s chosen spot. Note the blue tape bandaids on Scott’s feet.

Jul '09 - Veronica taught me some simple palm frond weaving - click to enlargeJul '09 - Daydream & Whisper feet in the dinghy; ready to snorkel - click to enlarge

The water clarity and the coral garden formations at Seven Islands are unrivaled in our experience.

Jul '09 - Seven Islands - Coral gardens - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Coral - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Coral arrangements - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Entrance Island - The colourful giant clam - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Colourful giant clam - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Seven Islands - Parrot fish - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Surgeonfish - click to enlargeJul '09 - Seven Islands - Unicorn fish - click to enlarge

There was no shortage of tasty fish in Suwarrow but you had to be fast with your spear gun or your fishing rod or you’re bound to lose your catch to the sharks.

Jul '09 - Shy grouper: Dinner! - click to enlargeJul '09 - Fast paced, tasty looking fish - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - Entrance Island - Frigate bird - click to enlargeJul '09 - Susan is the queen of the world's smallest island - click to enlargeJul '09 - Great vis shown by Wayne taking a photo of Scott surfacing from the bottom  - click to enlarge

Jun '09 - Entrance Island - Moorish Idol - click to enlargeJun '09 - Coconut crab up a coconut palm tree - click to enlarge

Jul '09 - A black tip reef shark at the evening shark feeding - click to enlarge