Snorkeling with Sharks and Rays in French Polynesia

The classic encounter happens on sandy shallows inside the lagoon. Off Moorea’s northwest coast and in Bora Bora’s lagoon, boats anchor in water you can stand in while pink whiprays glide around your legs and blacktip reef sharks circle a little farther out.

The Tuamotu atolls raise the stakes. Guided drift snorkels through Rangiroa’s Tiputa Pass bring gray reef sharks, eagle rays and sometimes dolphins, and Fakarava’s south pass, on calm days, offers a glimpse of its famous wall of sharks from the surface. Maupiti’s lagoon is known for snorkeling with manta rays.

Blacktip reef sharks in the lagoons are small, timid and used to snorkelers, and guided encounters have an excellent safety record. Stay calm, keep your hands to yourself and follow the guide’s positioning, especially when other boats are nearby.

Rays carry a barbed tail spine, so never grab or stand on one; shuffle your feet when wading. The passes are a different environment, with strong currents and larger sharks, so join a guided drift with a reputable operator and be honest about your swimming ability.

French Polynesia protects all shark species throughout its waters: most species have been protected since 2006, and in 2012 the territory declared its exclusive economic zone a shark sanctuary. Fishing for sharks and trading shark products are banned.

Some lagoons, including Moorea’s, are managed under local marine-space plans that regulate activities at popular sites, and feeding wildlife has long been debated by scientists and operators. Choose guides who keep feeding to a minimum or skip it, never touch the animals and brief you on coral etiquette.

Most visitors snorkel with sharks and rays on a half- or full-day lagoon tour that adds coral-garden stops and a motu picnic. Shared boats are sociable and good value; a private boat lets you go early, before the busiest hours, and set the pace for children.

In July, August and the holidays, book private tours with your hotel. Gigi can pair a Moorea or Bora Bora lagoon day with a Tuamotu atoll for a stronger shark experience.