Marine Life — Who Lives Here?
The waters around Bora Bora host a rich and diverse marine fauna — from tiny clownfish to massive manta rays. Here are the stars of the lagoon and the outer reefs:
The Big Stars
- Manta Rays — The kings of the lagoon: giant manta rays with wingspans up to 4 meters glide majestically through the Teavanui Pass. Their elegance is breathtaking. Best time: May–November at the cleaning stations.
- Blacktip Reef Sharks — The most common sharks in the lagoon: elegant, shy, and harmless to humans. Up to 1.5 meters long, recognizable by the black tips on their fins. Ubiquitous when snorkeling and diving.
- Lemon Sharks — Larger than the blacktips (up to 3 meters), yellowish-brown and also peaceful towards humans. Common in the lagoon, especially in the deeper channels.
- Stingrays — The gentle giants of the shallow areas: wingspans up to 1.5 meters, velvety skin, and a curiosity that brings them right up to humans. Petting is a tradition on Bora Bora — respectful and gentle.
- Sea Turtles — Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles populate the lagoon. Often seen at the resort reefs, where they feed on algae from the corals.
At the Reef
- Parrotfish — In vibrant blue, green, and pink hues, they nibble on corals, producing the white sand of the motu beaches — yes, the sand was once coral in the belly of a parrotfish.
- Clownfish — The famous "Nemos" live in symbiosis with sea anemones. Found in several spots in the lagoon.
- Moray Eels — Various species of moray eels live in rock crevices and coral caves. They look menacing but are shy. Do not reach into crevices!
- Napoleon Wrasse — The massive, blue-green wrasse (up to 2 meters!) is one of the most impressive reef inhabitants. Curious and often surprisingly approachable.
Seasonal
- Humpback Whales (July–November) — Migrating humpback whales can be observed from boats, occasionally even within the lagoon. Whale-watching tours are offered seasonally.
- Dolphins — Spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins regularly play in front of the reef. Best observed from a boat.
