Published on 14 August 2023
Reading time: 3 min.
The rich and easily observed marine fauna is one of the reasons why The Islands of Tahiti is such a popular destination.
French Polynesia is an island paradise, or rather, a paradise of islands. Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa are just a few of 118 islands that attract lovers of nature and adventure from all over the world. And one of the most popular activities in The Islands of Tahiti is scuba diving. Dive into the warm clear waters and admire the incredibly diverse marine life in the lagoons and passes.
A giant aquarium
Tropocal fish, sea turtles, playful dolphins and majestic fafapiti (manta rays)...it’s amazing what you can see when you go kayaking on the lagoons in The Islands of Tahiti. Diving in the passes, you’ll come across sharks of all kinds: blacktip, whitetip, lemon, gray and hammerhead. Classed as a whale sanctuary since 2002, French Polynesia is a giant aquarium of 5 million km².
Certain dives site are truly exceptional, such as the two sites in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fakarava. In the southern pass, there is a site known as the ‘wall of sharks’, which really does merit its name. The pass in the north of the atoll is very wide and pefect for drift diving on the incoming current. Tuna, barracuda and myriads of tropical fish will keep you company as you glide into the lagoon.
Follow the little fish, and the big ones
Your dive boat takes you across the turquoise lagoon to the spot. You roll over the side…And suddenly, you’re in a different world! Colorful tropical fish are swimming all around you: clownfish, butterfly fish, longhorn cowfish… And in the distance, you can make out the silhouettes of sharks and majestic manta rays. You’re in underwater wonderland!
Tropical fish, sharks, manta rays and dolphins aren’t the only stars of the undersea world in French Polynesia. From July to November, you can also go swimming with humpback whales! They come to the warmer waters in The Islands of Tahiti to reproduce and nurture their young. To observe them in their natural habitat is a wondrous experience and the best island for whale watching is Rurutu in the Austral Islands. Despite their enormous size, these magnificent beasts were once in danger of extinction. To protect and preserve them, you can only swim with the whales in the company of guides on authorized excursions.
Thematics
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