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MapSpeciesParksDiving
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  3. French Polynesia

French Polynesia

Oceania

140

Documented species

1

Parks and reserves

3

Dive sites

Parks and reserves

Diving and snorkelling

Species documented in French Polynesia

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140 species found

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Based on what we already know about French Polynesia.

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Biosphere Reserve

Fakarava

One of the best places in the world to see the largest documented aggregation of grey reef sharks during the groupers' annual spawning

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Atoll pass/Pelagic

Fakarava (Shark Wall)

The second largest atoll in French Polynesia, with an enormous lagoon and only two passes connecting it to the ocean: Garuae to the north, the widest navigable channel in Polynesia at some 1,600 m, and Tumakohua to the south, barely a hundred metres across. It is in that southern pass that the "shark wall" forms: hundreds of grey reef sharks resting in formation through the day as the current floods in.

See dive site
Lagoon/Reef

Bora Bora

An iconic turquoise lagoon with manta ray cleaning stations reachable even by beginners.

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Atoll pass/Current

Rangiroa (Tiputa Pass)

The second-largest atoll in the world. At the mouth of the Tiputa Pass a shoal of grey sharks gathers at around 40 m when the current is right.

See dive site
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Lesser FrigatebirdLeast Concern

Lesser Frigatebird

Fregata ariel

Little EgretLeast Concern

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Moorish IdolLeast Concern

Moorish Idol

Zanclus cornutus

PinkfishLeast Concern

Pinkfish

Holothuria edulis

Emperor AngelfishLeast Concern

Emperor Angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator

Clown TriggerfishLeast Concern

Clown Triggerfish

Balistoides conspicillum

White-spotted PufferLeast Concern

White-spotted Puffer

Arothron hispidus

Red LionfishLeast Concern

Red Lionfish

Pterois volitans

Man-of-war FishLeast Concern

Man-of-war Fish

Nomeus gronovii

OarfishLeast Concern

Oarfish

Regalecus glesne

Tropical Two-wing FlyingfishLeast Concern

Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish

Exocoetus volitans

Masked BoobyLeast Concern

Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

Page 5 of 12
Fish in French Polynesia4 species
ParkFakarava
DivingFakarava (Shark Wall)