Tahiti

The drop-dead gorgeous Society Islands and the remote archipelago of the Tuamotus offer everything from shallow lagoon dives with rays to the adrenaline-pumping pass dives with walls of grey sharks. Tahiti's fields of hard corals are also home to a wide variety of tropical Pacific fish and reef dwellers from clams with vibrantly-colored mantles to the curious Napoleon wrasse. Manta rays, hammerhead sharks and dolphins also frequent these waters which are renowned for their big animal encounters. Many areas of French Polynesia are still relatively undeveloped and undiscovered and offer adventurous travelers exciting excursions on land and by sea. Hiking, surfing, 4-wheel drive safaris, historical sights, Polynesian cultural shows, dolphin and stingray encounters and trips to black pearl farms are all must-do excursions.