Bora Bora - get out

While many people enjoy lounging (I'm definitely like that on some vacations), I know others are excited to try new activities and I thought it would be helpful to look into as many options as possible to make sure everyone can have the best trip at their own speed. :)
Here's the main activities to choose from:

• sun bathing (one of my personal faves) - try Matira Beach, it's the island's best sandy beach
  
• scuba diving - best lagoon spots are Too Pua, Anau (good for spotting rays), Toopua Iti and Mute Motu (near the airport); best ocean spots are Tapu, Tipitipiti and Muri Muri
  
• sailing - available for rent
  
• snorkeling - the marine reserve at Hotel Bora Bora is great for snorkeling
  
• windsurfing - quite a workout!
  
• jet skiing - available for rent
  
• waterskiing and wakeboarding - you'll need to rent a boat for these
  
• swimming - if you are staying in an over water bungalow...just climb down the stairs outside your door and slip right into the water!
  
• deep sea fishing - offering catches of marlin, wahoo, yellowfin, tuna, sailifish and mahi mahi
  
• glass bottom boat tours - available to book through your hotel
  
• safari mountain excursions and hiking - available to book through your hotel
  
• parasailing - provides an incredible view of the lagoon
  

The list goes on...But the most popular activity is shark feeding. Many may be a little aprehensive with this but it's a long-standing tradition and thousands of tourists experience it there every year. It's actually a very interesting technique - the guides use a rope to tie off an area for the guests in the water. Sometimes they will tie it to the boat, sometimes they will use the coral in the water and other times they will use rocks. The guides will get into the water alone with a good amount of (bloody) fish and once the fish are thrown into the water, it's seconds until the sharks arrive. The guide will signal you to get in when he knows it is safe and you are able to stay behind that rope in the water keeping a safe distance from the sharks but still close enough to see all of the action. There are also some guides that encourage you to swim with the sharks following the feeding. Although this usually doesn't last long since the sharks will typically swim away once they realize the food is gone. :) Additionally during this session you are also able to swim with, feed and pet rays. These rays are VERY large but very gentle and enjoy human contact. They are used to having people in the water with them and look forward to these feeding sessions. Your guides have developed "relationships" with both the sharks and the rays so you should feel very comfortable - focus on the incredible stories you'll have to tell when you get home! PS - definitely buy or rent an underwater camera, you'll be amazed at the pictures!