Try a helmet dive instead of snorkeling

If you’ve ever wanted to have the experience of diving underwater—and staying there for half an hour—but aren’t sure SCUBA certification is right for you, there’s an alternative. It’s called a helmet dive.

Get close to tropical fish when underwater in a helmet dive.

While visiting Bora Bora one of the Society Islands in the South Pacific, we decided to try this new way of exploring the ocean floor and all the marine life to be seen below the surface. A short boat ride from our cruise ship took us to the Coral Garden, a protected open-water aquarium in the lagoon surrounding the island--which happens to be one of the most beautiful dive spots in the world.

Helmets lined up and ready for us to wear underwater.

After a safety briefing and instructions for equalizing pressure once the helmet was in place (swallow a couple of times), each participant in turn started down a ladder into the ocean. Because the helmet is very heavy—heavy enough to hold you 10 feet down—it is winched up and then lowered over your head, resting on your shoulders, just before you become submerged.

Larry is surrounded by colorful fish--10 feet under the surface.

The good news is you can wear glasses or contact lenses to see through the front glass. That was a big help for taking pictures. Also, your head—and hair—remain dry inside the helmet. Air bubbles sparkling in the sunshine rose from each helmet as people breathed normally inside.

Once on the bottom we were free to wander within a roped-off area. Since each helmet is connected by an air hose to the boat, we obviously needed to stay within those boundaries. I felt the sensation of water slightly swirling gently around my shoulders, but that could have been my imagination. No water entered the helmet.

Clear turquoise water allowed us to take excellent photos.

A great variety of beautiful tropical fish swam all around us—black and white striped, gleaming yellow, tiny blue, iridescent white, large black, white with splotches of pink and green—so close we could actually touch them. Of course, the small piece of bread in a mesh sack attached to the helmet was a big attraction for the fish.

Although we’re cautioned not to touch coral for safety and environmental reasons, we were encouraged to touch one soft section of tubular orange coral waving in the current. A photographer took pictures of couples by using hand signals to match them up. After an exciting 30 minutes, we held onto the rope encircling the dive area to maneuver our lighter-weight bodies back to the boat’s ladder.

Fish and fingers explore coral at the bottom of the sea. 

As soon as my head was out of water the helmet was winched off. On the way back to the dock, we toasted each other with a drink of fresh fruit juice. This incredible experience was much better than we had expected. If you can’t get to Bora Bora, many Caribbean ports also offer helmet dives.

Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

Bora Bora--paradise in the South Pacific



Our first look at the mountains of tropical Bora Bora

Bora Bora is everyone’s picture of a romantic South Pacific Island. Upon arrival by cruise ship, we see castle-like Mt. Otemanu jutting up into the sky. Green tropical slopes greet us as the ship docks just offshore of Vaitape, the island’s main settlement.

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of Society Islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by a lagoon and barrier reef, Bora Bora’s landscape is dominated by two prominent peaks, Mt. Pahia and Mt. Otemanu (which has the highest point at 2,385 feet). These mountains are remnants of the extinct volcano which created the island, now an international tourist destination.


Bungalows over the water provide an excellent escape into paradise.

Between the peaks are valleys filled with 50 varieties of hibiscus blossoms in orange, white, yellow, pink, red, and more. Plentiful coconut trees, pineapple plants, and small but very sweet bananas grow on the main island and smaller islands called motus. White sand beaches and emerald waters, along with colorful fish and giant manta rays swimming among the coral gardens, attract visitors to this tropical paradise.

Dependent on tourism, the island is famous for its luxury resorts, some of which feature bungalows built on stilts over the water. Lagoon trips to snorkel, picnic on a private motu, cruise at sunset, or view the perimeter of the island by speedboat or motorized canoe, are very popular. There’s no public transportation, but you can rent cars or bicycles to get around. If you’re not in a hurry, try one of the trucks that the locals use—which run on island time.



Splashing along on our speedboat ride around Bora Bora

The island’s original name was Pora Pora, meaning “first born.” There is no B sound in Polynesian language, but early visitors misunderstood the pronunciation. Polynesians settled on the island in the 4^th century, and the famous explorer James Cook landed and mapped the island in 1770.  London missionaries arrived in 1820 and established Protestant churches, still the most prominent religion today.

After the Oceania Marina docked, Larry and I took the three-minute tender ride to shore and wandered around until time for our speed boat excursion circumnavigating the island. The front section of the boat had bench seats, but back where we sat were saddle seats that reminded us of riding a horse. As we circled Bora Bora, streams of water splashed beside the boat shining like sparklers in the sunlight. I got soaked when the jet boat captain opened up the throttle to give us an exhilarating ride.



Snorkeling at the coral garden in the lagoon was outstanding.

We stopped at a magnificent coral garden in the lagoon, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. The reef teemed with colorful tropical fish flitting among dozens of coral species in the pleasant water. With sunlight gleaming, we were able to take many stunning photos of undersea life. Back on the boat, one guide entertained us with songs on his ukulele, while the other guide served a refreshing plate of tropical fruits.

I can't name all the fish, but they were really beautiful.

As the journey continued, the guide slowed down to point out a huge cannon on the side of Matira Point, a rusty remnant of America’s role in helping defend Bora Bora from the Japanese during WWII.

Nearby Matira Beach is Bora Bora's most famous public beach because of its long stretch of gleaming white sand as fine as powdered sugar. Palms swayed in the sea breeze as we stopped on a sandbar just off Matira Beach for a short swim before completing our boat ride around the island. It was a lovely way to view Bora Bora and left no doubt why visitors come to relax and rejuvenate among spectacular island scenery.

Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier