Lagoon Service Bora Bora — Attraction in Bora-Bora

SOLO TRAVELLERS BEWARE: this company will not hesitate to lie to you and cancel you off an excursion.

I made a reservation for a day tour. Since Tahiti was experiencing severe weather that week, it was unknown if the tour would be going ahead. So the agreement I made with the staff members was Lagoon Service would let me know the day before the tour if it was being cancelled or going ahead. If it was going ahead, I would make payment asap using the payment link that had been sent to me. This can all be verified via messages.

Well I did receive a call the day before in the morning. The staff member told me that the "weather tomorrow was going to be much like today" (meaning, storm, heavy rain and windy), and that "the tour was being cancelled." That was a lie, as I met people the same evening who were also signed up on the same tour with this company and they did not receive a cancellation call. In fact, I saw this company and their boat on the water the very next day, as I was able to get a tour with another company. I also confirmed with the same people I met the night before if indeed they went on the tour, and they said they did--it was not cancelled.

I contacted Lagoon Service to ask why I was cancelled, and the others were not. They did not reply. What I suspect happened, is that maybe a couple or trio wanted to go on the tour and there was no room, so they removed me.

Lying, cancelling a solo, and not returning messages--very unprofessional.

I also heard from some locals that this company chose to go out on the water on a day it was really stormy and other companies chose not to go. Money over people's safety?

EDIT POST OWNER's RESPONSE. Again, not telling the truth. I have written confirmation that I was booked aka 'confirmed. . As well, the people I met who were booked on the same day had already made their reservations more than the day before, and they did not receive a call to say they were not cancelled. I received my call in the morning, they should have also received a call but did not. Trying to cover up the discriminatory practice does...

Goodness. Where to start! Our tour was billed as “swimming with sting rays and sharks, with lunch on a private motu”. That’s like saying Bora Bora is a place where you can swim. It’s true, but it does NOT do it justice!!

Our guide picked us up from our resort’s dock, gathered the rest of the passengers, and we were off. There was a cooler of drinks for us, and a guide that kept us entertained the whole time. We stopped in a shallow area to see stingrays. Did you know stingrays like cuddles?! Well, now I do. They were all over our guide, and we all got a turn to hold one of “his girls”. Then we went to a deeper area with a handful of beautiful (and shy) black-tipped sharks. We went to a final area where we formed a line (like ducks!) and followed our guide through the most gorgeous coral garden.

In between our stops, our guide kept us entertained either by playing his ukulele and singing for us, or naming each resort, or teaching us natural science facts about the scenes around us. (I now know that stingrays can eat through their ears. So that’s cool.)

We ended up with an absolutely delicious lunch on a private island, and a detailed (and delicious) coconut husking demonstration.

Ray was our guide- he was incredible. Kevin was his crew, and was also wonderful. I sent the following note to his boss: “ I just wanted to send a massive māuruuru! Our excursion today with Ray and Kevin went above and beyond our expectations. From cuddly sting rays to truly excellent food to beautiful music and an amazing coconut demonstration…it was all incredible. Thank you for an awesome tour, and please pass our compliments on to Ray and Kevin. We will ask for Ray by name if...

This is probably the best day trip we’ve ever taken. Our tour guides were Big Mike and Tama; their knowledge is excellent and their love for their home is inspiring. You will see and do things you could never find on your own. We are 56 and 59 (yes, you can do this tour!) and were the oldest folks in our group of 8. Big Mike and Tama were patient and caring for us and the other guests - making sure we could get in and out of the boat OK (ladder on the side and steps off the back - both doable even with bad knees!) The snorkeling is amazing - stingrays, sharks, fish and beautiful coral in water that is both chest deep and over 30 feet deep (life jackets are available). The final activity before lunch is like floating along a lazy river (but without the floatie!) as you snorkel along with the current through a beautiful coral garden while feeding the fish by hand. Tama was floating along with us in the water the whole time making sure we all stayed together and were OK. At the end of the tour we joined another boat from the same company for lunch on a secluded island (maybe 20 guests total?). The food was local, authentic, plentiful and delicious. After lunch, we learned everything you could ever wish to know about coconuts - how they grow, how to open one, how the Polynesian people use every part of the tree and the fruit for something useful. Very interesting. I tasted a coconut heart … delicious. Big Mike and Tama, THANK YOU for such an amazing day we will never forget....