Video: Scuba Diving with Hundreds of Sharks off Fakarava

Fakarava is a remote atoll located about 270 miles off the coast of Tahiti and is arguably one of the best diving destinations in French Polynesia, if not the world. The superb visibility and pristine reefs make Fakarava a veritable utopia for underwater photographers. However, the real draw that makes this place so special are the hundreds of grey reef sharks that aggregate in the steady currents of the Tumakohua (south) pass.

Getting to Fakarava is a long journey, but I always find that exploring the faraway places yield the greatest rewards. Early into our first descent, it became abundantly clear how true that was. As I followed our dive master to the edge of the pass, I was completely blown away at what I saw: a wall of over 400 sharks peacefully gliding into the current. It was truly a spectacular sight! It reminded me how beautiful and misunderstood these creatures are.

Once it was time to say goodbye to the sharks, we let the swift current glide us over seemingly endless valleys of coral until we reached the most incredible house reef I’ve ever encountered. If you’re looking for an off the beaten path adventure, make the trek to Fakarava.

For more of Jacob's videos and photography, check out his website and Facebook page.

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