As our journey amongst the Cook Islands continues, each new day presents another treasure of the South Pacific. Sometimes it feels as though we have walked onto a movie set, epitomizing what a true tropical island should look like; deep blue waters surrounding white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and friendly locals greeting you enthusiastically on the beach.
Today we, the guests of National Geographic Endeavour, visited Palmerston Island. This tiny island was first sighted in 1774 by Captain James Cook, but it was not until 1863 that it was permanently inhabited. The man who took this giant leap was named William Marsters. The present inhabitants of the Atoll are all Marsters, descendants from William and his three Maori wives. The island now has a population of 52, mostly the very young and very old, as young adults from the village go to Australia, New Zealand, and even the United States for school when they come of age.
The people of the island are some of the most friendly I have ever met. Big hellos and waves as our Zodiacs made their way into the beach. Children took our hands, eager to show us their home, or share a coconut with us. We were greeted and honored by the entire island, ingratiated into their community.
The entire area that we are visiting is called the Palmerston Atoll. An Atoll is a ringlike coral island enclosing a lagoon. Lagoons are generally separated from larger bodies of water by sand bars or reef, in this case a dramatic coral reef often covered in pounding surf, lines the outside. Lagoons are immensely important for breeding fish. The young fish, whether they are damsel, butterfly, or wrasse, are protected from crashing waves, surge, and of course larger predators.
But outside the reef is a whole different environment. Exposed to the full fury of the ocean, the Atoll falls away dramatically, a steep cliff looking down into nothing but blue. It is lined with hundreds of diverse corals, different shapes and sizes, some looking like stalked trees, and others anatomical parts. Brightly colored fish duck and dart in between, hiding or playing I can’t be sure. Whether snorkeling or diving, entering into these waters is like entering another world, where some of the most delicate and beautiful creatures on the planet thrive.
Today we visited an island that was as close to paradise on earth as we could get; and whether we took away with us a new pen pal, a pictures, or simply the fond memories, it is a day we won’t soon forget.
Today we, the guests of National Geographic Endeavour, visited Palmerston Island. This tiny island was first sighted in 1774 by Captain James Cook, but it was not until 1863 that it was permanently inhabited. The man who took this giant leap was named William Marsters. The present inhabitants of the Atoll are all Marsters, descendants from William and his three Maori wives. The island now has a population of 52, mostly the very young and very old, as young adults from the village go to Australia, New Zealand, and even the United States for school when they come of age.
The people of the island are some of the most friendly I have ever met. Big hellos and waves as our Zodiacs made their way into the beach. Children took our hands, eager to show us their home, or share a coconut with us. We were greeted and honored by the entire island, ingratiated into their community.
The entire area that we are visiting is called the Palmerston Atoll. An Atoll is a ringlike coral island enclosing a lagoon. Lagoons are generally separated from larger bodies of water by sand bars or reef, in this case a dramatic coral reef often covered in pounding surf, lines the outside. Lagoons are immensely important for breeding fish. The young fish, whether they are damsel, butterfly, or wrasse, are protected from crashing waves, surge, and of course larger predators.
But outside the reef is a whole different environment. Exposed to the full fury of the ocean, the Atoll falls away dramatically, a steep cliff looking down into nothing but blue. It is lined with hundreds of diverse corals, different shapes and sizes, some looking like stalked trees, and others anatomical parts. Brightly colored fish duck and dart in between, hiding or playing I can’t be sure. Whether snorkeling or diving, entering into these waters is like entering another world, where some of the most delicate and beautiful creatures on the planet thrive.
Today we visited an island that was as close to paradise on earth as we could get; and whether we took away with us a new pen pal, a pictures, or simply the fond memories, it is a day we won’t soon forget.
