Isles Des Requins

Image by Ty Sawyer

It's impossible to ignore the azure allure and deeply romantic inspiration of the 118 dazzling French Polynesian islands spread across a million square miles of the South Pacific. Each of the five archipelagos — the Society Islands, the Austral (Tubai) Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Tuamotu Islands and the Gambier Islands — has unique attributes and distinctive appeal.
    
One thing all of the islands share, though, is an abundance of sharks. Every dive is a shark dive. Blacktips are on constant patrol. Off Moorea and Bora Bora, big lemon sharks often come in for a look. And in the outlying atolls, especially the Tuamotus, where pass-diving rules the day, you will often be surrounded by literally hundreds of gray sharks or blacktips, with frequent visits by beefy silvertips and even tiger sharks — you'll know when the tiger shark arrives by the conspicuous absence of the other sharks.

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Another constant across the expanse of Polynesia are waters that define the notion of a perfect blue sea. Viz often exceeds 150 feet outside the reef, and you'll find acres and acres of pristine corals packed with the creatures that find refuge in its protective confines — damselfish, lionfish, Moorish idols, butterflyfish, bannerfish and, for the observant, colorful crabs and well-camouflaged leaf fish. Moorea even has its own version of Cayman's Stingray City, called Stingray World.
    

Off Tahiti, within sight of the airport, you shouldn't miss the intact wreck of a Catalina Flying Boat, the nearby Geolette (a cargo ship) and an anemone-covered Cessna. Within the famous Bora Bora Lagoon, manta rays come in for a daily visit at Anau; and for intimate encounters with seasonal humpbacks (August-November), the southern Australs — especially Rurutu — offer an unforgettable experience.
    
Above the water, Tahiti seems to materialize from all the Hollywood renditions of tropical paradise. The place crawls with honeymooners, and for good reason: Tahiti exudes romance. With its dreamy lagoons and postcard views, it's nearly impossible not to be moved. The views do come with a price, though, as the islands can get expensive. As more and more divers discover Tahiti, however, there may come a time when undersea explorers actually exceed the number of starry-eyed surface dwellers.