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Paradise found
The first thalasso center to tap the virtues of seawater from the depths of the Pacific, the Deep Ocean Spa was opened with a firm belief that we are all linked to the sea and that each of our cells recalls this ancient connection. Water used in the spa is extracted from the base of plunging volcanic reef walls — an incredible 3,000 feet below the surface. This deep seawater is among the purest and most revitalizing water in the world (it’s particularly rich in active minerals, vitamins, and trace elements) — and it’s harvested in a way that makes the least impact on the environment. I am intrigued by the technology (the cold water even acts as the resort’s air conditioner) and excited to experience the power of the sea.
After looking at the spa menu, we select the Bora Bora Deep Blue Massage. (Other selections include sport massages for achy muscles, jet lag remedies, scalp and foot reflexology, hot stone massage, and couples treatments in the overwater bungalows.) Although not an avid spa-goer, I feel I’m turning a corner — especially when I’m told that though this is a beautifying treatment, it is much like diving into the depths of the Pacific. That is until I notice that my therapist is male — then I start feeling a bit nervous.
Lying side by side, Dana and I begin the Deep Blue Massage faceup. The treatment features Algotherm products, including a moisturizing mixture of carefully (and responsibly) selected marine ingredients. Warmed before being placed onto the skin, the product — combined with long massage strokes — proves to be immensely relaxing. When we turn facedown, I am pleasantly surprised to see that there is a glass window in the floor just below the head cradle showcasing the sea life below. I also realize that any remaining tension in my body has vanished — as has my ungrounded apprehension around male therapists.
After our massage, we enjoy the spa’s outdoor areas, a multisensory playground of water-based amenities (some using seawater). There’s a rectangular water path called the Deep Chiller Walk that you enter via stairs (once inside, seawater jets around your calves and thighs as you walk back and forth); a Jacuzzi; a cold seawater pool called the Deep Sea Plunge (placed next to steam rooms to create a convenient hot/cold circuit); two rain showers that feature various fragrances and colors that envelop you in mist and water (the lights in the showers correspond to the scent); and more. We finish off our time at the Deep Ocean Spa in the seaside tea room, relaxing as we scan the water for humpback whales.
The next morning, feeling rested and hungry, I’m glad that Bora Bora’s answer to room service — a romantic breakfast delivered by canoe — has just arrived. As I watch the table being set out on the balcony, I find myself beaming at the start of another perfect day — a peaceful, repast of omelets, breads, jams, and champagne shared with my new wife.
More spa-ing comes next, and after the Honeymoon Bliss treatment at the Marù Spa — a tandem pineapple scrub, 80-minute Polynesian massage with traditional monoi oil, and bath laced with coconut milk and flower petals — Dana and I take the remainder of the day to enjoy each other’s company while lounging about our bungalow. We are in a state of blissful suspension that we both sorely needed. Iconically exotic, Bora Bora is a heady cocktail for the senses — rejuvenating, inspiring, and seductively romantic.
As we sit here, I’m amazed at how a relatively minute dose of relaxation with loved ones dissolves life’s detritus and gives clarity to what is important. And when it’s time to slow down and prioritize life’s pleasures, Dana and I have come to the conclusion that this South Pacific Eden is truly paradise found.
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