Experience Thrilling Shark Encounters in the Tropical Haven of French Polynesia

Experience Thrilling Shark Encounters in the Tropical Haven of French Polynesia

Exploring the Shark Capital of the World: Diving in French Polynesia

French Polynesia, often referred to as Tahiti, is a paradise for both beach lovers and adrenaline seekers. Known for its breathtaking beaches and shark diving, this South Pacific destination offers an unforgettable underwater experience.

The best scuba diving sites in French Polynesia are located north of the main Society islands within the Tuamotu chain of islands. This region, home to the atolls of Rangiroa and Fakarava, is where you'll find the top shark diving sites.

Fakarava Island

Fakarava's South Pass is considered the premier shark diving spot in French Polynesia. Known as one of the premier shark diving spots in the world, this site offers large numbers of lemon, whitetip, and hammerhead sharks swimming through a narrow underwater valley called Shark's Hole. The excellent visibility and dramatic underwater topography make it ideal for shark encounters.

Rangiroa Atoll

While not as specifically noted for shark dives as Fakarava, Rangiroa offers excellent diving with coral reefs and channels where sharks can be seen. Avatoru Pass, for instance, offers a calmer drift dive with opportunities to view large silvertip sharks and healthy coral. Tiputa Pass, the most famous and well-known dive site in French Polynesia, is also located in Rangiroa. Here, you can encounter great hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, schools of barracuda, bottlenose dolphins, eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, and giant napoleon wrasse.

Moorea

Moorea, accessible by a short ferry ride from Papeete, offers good shark diving and excellent snorkeling. Moorea's dive sites are mostly located on the ocean side of the lagoon and offer opportunities for stunning split shots or over-unders due to healthy coral reefs and gin clear visibility. Here, you can encounter blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, and large lemon sharks.

For those seeking luxury, a visit to Moorea can be combined with a stay at one of several resorts featuring private overwater and beachfront bungalows.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit French Polynesia for diving is between April and October, during the cooler dry season. Daytime temperatures in French Polynesia range from 81-86 degrees Fahrenheit and water temperatures generally range from 79-82 degrees Fahrenheit. A 3mm wetsuit is recommended for the fall, spring, and summer while a 3-5mm wetsuit is appropriate for the winter months.

Shark Diving Tips

At the end of Tumakohua Pass, shallow water is home to many blacktip reef sharks. At Tumakohua Pass, South Fakarava, you'll find a unique shark dive with a wall of grey reef sharks without baiting, and the chance to see other shark species, barracuda, giant napoleon wrasse, schools of jacks, and a diversity of fish.

During the annual grouper spawning in July, Tumakohua Pass attracts thousands of large groupers and a plethora of hunting sharks.

Expert Guidance

Renee Grinnell Capozzola, a biology teacher and underwater photographer, aims to increase awareness of fragile marine ecosystems with her photographs. She has self-published an extensive dive travel guide on French Polynesia titled: Beneath the Surface: The Best Diving & Snorkeling in French Polynesia. Readers can find her book at https://www.blurb.com/b/6184000-beneath-the-surface and her website at www.beneaththesurfaceimaging.com for more information on French Polynesia.

A Paradise Worth Exploring

French Polynesia is often referred to as the shark capital of the world, with a plethora of sharks on almost every dive. The islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora have long conjured up images of pure paradise, with unspoiled talc-white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, and diverse marine life. Whether you're a seasoned diver or a beginner, French Polynesia offers an unparalleled underwater adventure.

1. A visit to French Polynesia, popularly known as Tahiti, combines the charm of picturesque beaches with the thrill of shark diving, making it an ideal destination for both beach lovers and adrenaline seekers.
2. The Tuamotu chain of islands, north of the main Society islands, is home to the best scuba diving sites in French Polynesia, including the atolls of Rangiroa and Fakarava, renowned for their shark diving spots.
3. Fakarava's South Pass, known as one of the premier shark diving spots in the world, offers remarkable underwater valleys like Shark's Hole, filled with large numbers of lemon, whitetip, and hammerhead sharks.
4. Rangiroa, while not as specifically noted for shark dives as Fakarava, still provides excellent diving opportunities with coral reefs and channels where sharks can be spotted.
5. Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa, the most famous and well-known dive site in French Polynesia, allows encounters with great hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, schools of barracuda, bottlenose dolphins, eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, and giant napoleon wrasse.
6. Moorea, easily accessible by a short ferry ride from Papeete, offers good shark diving and excellent snorkeling, with healthy coral reefs and gin clear visibility.
7. For those seeking luxury, Moorea's resorts offer private overwater and beachfront bungalows as an option for a comfortable stay during the trip.
8. The best time to visit French Polynesia for diving is between April and October, during the cooler dry season, when water temperatures range from 79-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. For a comprehensive guide on diving and snorkeling in French Polynesia, Renee Grinnell Capozzola's self-published book, Beneath the Surface: The Best Diving & Snorkeling in French Polynesia, is highly recommended. Her website,
10. French Polynesia, famously referred to as the shark capital of the world, offers an unparalleled underwater adventure with a variety of sharks on almost every dive.
11. French Polynesia's islands, with their unspoiled talc-white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, and diverse marine life, have long been associated with pure paradise, making it an unmissable destination for travelers interested in science, lifestyle, technology, education-and-self-development, entertainment, general-news, sports, and more.

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