South Pacific: From Taha’a’s Lagoons to Rangiroa’s Marine Wonders

The multiple islands and atolls across French Polynesia provide a touch of paradise beyond the economic and political challenges facing Oceania. From snorkeling in the lagoons of Taha’a to whale watching in Mo’oera and for adventurous travelers, diving with the black tip reef sharks in Rangiroa, French Polynesia provides many culturally enriching experiences to truly grasp the untouched beauty and traditions across Oceania. The implementation and importance of responsible tourism across this region seek to protect the unique wonders from mass-commercialized tourism, instead offering an authentic Polynesian experience for travelers.

Taha’a: The Hidden Gem of French Polynesia 

Taha’a is a motu formed as an island from broken coral and sand. This small land mass provides the opportunity to snorkel in the lagoon with local fish species including the lemon peel angelfish, and enjoy the unbleached coral gardens. Local industry in the farming and picking of Tahitian vanilla allows travelers to support small communities while enjoying the natural beauty. In the local Tahitian language, Taha’a translates to vanilla island reflecting the history of the island as a prime agricultural spot for Tahitian vanilla, and reflecting the vanilla-coloured sands. 

Neighboring island to the north of Taha’a is Bora Bora with a population under 5000, which remains an authentic island experience. Beyond the luxury and boutique resorts, travelers can explore the natural wonders. Both motu appear right out of the film series Pirates of the Caribbean. From the crispy white sand to the turquoise untouched waters, one could envisage Captain Jack Sparrow roaming the islands in search of rum and sea turtles.

Just south of Taha’a, the island of Raiatea is of great significance to Polynesian culture. UNESCO has designated the Taputapuātea, referred to as the ‘Polynesian Triangle’, due to it being widely considered as the birthplace of Polynesian culture. Polynesian sailors spread culture and ancestry to New Zealand, Hawaii and elsewhere across the Pacific Ocean.  Furthermore, Taputapuātea holds the Taputapuātea marae, a symbol of ceremonial and spiritual significance to Polynesian culture. Under laws introduced by the French Polynesian government, the marae has been protected since 1952, to ensure the protection of this sacred and cultural sight.  Under laws introduced by the French Polynesian government, the marae has been protected since 1952, to ensure the protection of this sacred and cultural sight.   

Rangiroa: A Shark Diver’s Paradise 

The opportunity to dive with Blacktip reef sharks provides a daring adventure to those brave travelers. Rangiroa, northwest of the Tuamotu Islands is an atoll formed above an undersea volcano that has provided a shallow lagoon teaming with marine life. Responsible travel is essential for supporting small, family-run tourism businesses across the islands of French Polynesia. Stories of Cadousteau Nohoarii, the owner of Kaimana Excursion, a Rangiroa-tour company seeks to educate travelers on the importance of Sharks to Polynesian culture, including an awareness campaign on the decline of global shark and ray populations.

In Polynesian culture, Sharks are called tāura, referring to the marine species as guardians or totems. Filmmaker Matahi Tutavae suggested that the Sharks “are navigators but also guardians of places”. This understanding of sharks as a cultural symbol ties into the history of Polynesian Sailors as explorers of far-flung lands across Oceania. As such, the introduction of the shark hunting ban by the French Polynesian Government has sought to protect these treasured species. 

Whale Watching in Mo’oera

The profound experience of whale watching and whale diving has become a hotspot for international tourists to Tonga and French Polynesia. From 2023, only 60 businesses specialized in whale tourism. A year later in 2024, whale tourism expanded to 90. The personalised accounts of swimmers such as Lisette Muratore describe the experience as “looking into the eyes of a god”.

Oceania is the epicenter of humpback whale migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean to breed. Conservation and advocates therein are seeking to work with the Government and the tourism sector to implement an ethical, respectful, and commercially viable whale-based tourism industry. This ties into the broader transformation of French Polynesia’s tourism sector towards more responsible and sustainable tourism practices. Given the migration patterns to warmer waters for breeding, Dr Agnes Benet has advocated for the introduction of mandatory ‘quiet periods ’to preserve the natural migration patterns of whales.

Sustainable Tourism and Wider Regional Conservation Efforts 

French Polynesia is a paradise beyond the regional economic and political challenges. Ensuring sustainable development across the small islands that form French Polynesia is vital for continued prosperity across the largest sector of tourism. More importantly, the preservation of cultural identity and traditions among local communities is vital towards future custodianship and respect of land, water, and ocean referred to collectively as ‘fenua’. The introduction of the Fari’ira’a Manihini 2027 (FM27) plan seeks to develop and implement a whole-nation approach to ensuring the islands are regional leaders in inclusive and sustainable tourism. A key pillar of the FM27 strategy is the preservation of the environment and cultural needs across the 118 small islands and atolls that form French Polynesia. The CEO of Tahiti Tourism, Jean-Marc Mocellin argued the continuity of a slow tourism destination- a little corner of paradise with exceptional services focusing on experiences, culture, and encounters with the local population”.

To achieve this, the Tahitian Government has introduced a cap on mass tourism, through an equal ratio of tourists to inhabitants. Based on current population numbers, the maximum capacity for annual tourism would be 280,000.  This contrasts with mass commercialized tourist efforts seen in Fiji and other Pacific Island States.