Moorea: Lagoon Snorkeling with Sharks, Rays & Coral Gardens

4.93

(138 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I hesitated when our guide, Teva, grinned and pointed to the spot where the blacktip sharks circled — they looked closer than I’d pictured. The boat had barely rocked to a stop in Opunohu Bay and already you could smell salt and something faintly sweet from the motu nearby. A couple from Paris laughed nervously as we slipped into the waist-high water; even the stingrays seemed curious about us. I tried not to flinch when one brushed my leg (softer than I expected). Teva just said, “They like gentle people,” which made us all laugh for some reason.

The second stop was drift snorkeling at this coral canyon — honestly, I didn’t expect to feel that kind of quiet underwater. The current carried us along and suddenly there were green turtles gliding below, white-spotted eagle rays off to the side. My mask kept fogging up but it didn’t matter much; you get these flashes of color and then just blue silence. If you’re not super confident swimming here, you can stay on the boat — one woman did and still got great photos.

Our last swim was between two motus where the coral garden looked almost painted — yellows, purples, fish darting everywhere. Someone handed around pineapple slices that tasted like sunshine (I’m not sure how else to say it). We sat dripping on the boat deck with juice running down our chins while Teva told stories about growing up here. I still think about that view back toward Moorea’s peaks as we headed in — sunburned, salty, kind of quiet in a good way.