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Lagoonarium Moore
Permanently Closed
News:
The owner of the Lagoonarium in Moorea, Mr. Matahi Pambrun has confirmed that the Lagoonarium on Moorea has closed permanently in 2021. After 24 years of family activity, the Moorea Lagoonarium has been dismantled. It seems the French Polynesian government ordered the closure because of the drowning of a tourist in 2018, and the child bitten by a shark in 2019.
Highlights
Lagoonarium is one of Moorea’s most popular recreation spots. This is the name of a lovely enclosed lagoon teeming with uncommon rays, sea turtles, and exotic fish. Employees at the marine reserve feed stingrays every day.
Tourists are permitted to swim in the lagoon at specified times. Guests can touch them while bathing and take a lot of fantastic shots of them.
Lagoonarium Moorea, bird feeding. Image: ©lagoonarium.e-monsite.com
Description
A visit to the Lagoonarium on the little Motu Ahi is one of the most stunning excursions that visitors may take in Moorea.
You can visit the Lagoonarium either on a day tour booked on-site or on your own, which is what we recommend. Simply contact the Lagoonarium (a staff member will pick you up from your hotel) or drive your rental car down Moorea’s east coast to a “Lagoonarium” parking area.
Parking is available there; purchase a ticket and board the Lagoonarium boat to the Motu. Advantage: When all the day-trippers have left in groups, you will have a lot more time for snorkeling and will be able to appreciate the diversity of the underwater environment even more.
A stunning, undamaged coral garden with hundreds of diverse reef fish surrounds Ahi. In the crystal blue water, you may also snorkel with rays and blacktip reef sharks. In strong currents, snorkeling along a rope allows you to piece together the underwater landscape.
A tiny fare (cottage) is available to each guest on the motu itself for changing clothes or taking a nap in the shade.
You can also relax on a little beach in a beautiful location between snorkeling sessions before returning to the ocean. On-site snorkeling and flipper rentals are also available.
There are refrigerators in the fare potee, the main house, where you may cool picnic utensils (don’t forget!) that you’ve brought with you.
Lagoonarium Moorea, kids playing in the shallow water. Image: ©lagoonarium.e-monsite.com
The Aquarium operators on Moorea are wonderful hosts who are glad to answer any inquiries regarding marine diversity. Furthermore, there is a regular fish feeding between 11:00 and 14:00.
The Lagoonarium is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. and is a must-see for any Moorea vacationing family.
A TripAdvisor user commented: “One of my favorite days in Mo’orea! At your own pace visit the island to snorkel in the gorgeous lagoon with ropes to help you get close to the reef and swim near plenty of fish! You get your own hut to relax if needed. Bring a lunch and spend a few hours!”
Lagoonarium Moorea
Pk 8, c. mer Afareaitu Moorea
Ile de Moorea, Polynésie française
Email: lagoonarium@hotmail.fr
Web: http://lagoonarium.e-monsite.com/
Phone: +(689) 78 31 15
FAQ – Lagoonarium Moorea
Is the Lagoonarium Moorea good for snorkeling?
The Lagoonarium is a unique site with its own setup. It is constantly traversed by a strong inward current that is difficult to fight against, even with fins, because of its proximity to a barrier reef. In fact, a robe web has been set up on the premises. These robes enable people to navigate around the reef using only their arms’ strength or to rest. Many varieties of reef fish, including regal angelfish, Moorish Idol, and many butterflyfish species, can be seen at the Lagoonarium.
Can I swim with sharks and stingrays?
The small islet (motu) just a few minutes off the island’s shore proves to be one of Moorea’s most fascinating things to do. Swimming with sharks and stingrays is without a doubt one of the most unusual experiences available and is regarded as a top attraction in the area.
The Lagoonarium is teeming with marine life, and the scheduled feeding times attract a wide variety of fascinating critters for up-close encounters. Bring a snorkel and diving mask to get even closer to the action, as the guides and crew will place food in the ocean to entice these surprisingly friendly creatures to approach even closer in hordes.
Even if it’s not something you’d normally seek out, it’s one of Moorea’s most popular activities, and even some who said they’d never do it afterward say it was one of the highlights of their trip and recommend it to anyone visiting this part of the French Polynesian islands.
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