Swimming in the rivers of New Caledonia in the heat of a mid-summer day is right there next to paradise. The Riviere Bleue de Prony is on the famous GRNC-1 trek that goes from the southern end of Grande Terre all the way to Noumea (and some day all the way to the northern end of the island). This Olympic sized swimming hole (a full 70 meters long) is a perfect place to sploosh in and feel the sun-heat sizzle away. The water is clear and cool, and you can get yourself into the fastest part of the current and swim until your arms drop off without going anywhere. Kind of like an aquatic treadmill. Or you can jump into the bubbles and drift off in the champaign-like tickle. The pool is just a 10 minute pleasant walk from the Carenage Anchorage in Baie de Prony.

This sphere image was taken with an itsy-bitsy tiny little GoPro Hero3 Black edition camera stuck on the end of my walking stick and held over my head on the big rock you see when you look straight down.