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Wildlife · Country Guide

French Polynesia

Atoll passes, shark sanctuaries, whale season, and lagoon days across the South Pacific

Updated Apr 26, 2026 • 28 sources

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Wildlife In French Polynesia

Browse the full species list linked to approved dive spots across French Polynesia.

Photo of Jackfish
Saltwater Fishes

Jackfish

12 linked spots

Photo of Whitetip Reef Shark
Sharks

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

11 linked spots

Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) Image ID: corl0207, NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection Location: Pacific Remote Islands, Kingman Reef Photo Date: 2015 Photographer: Kevin Lino NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD
Sharks

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

10 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in the water
Saltwater Fishes

Barracuda

8 linked spots

A blacktip reef shark swims over sandy seabed.
Sharks

Blacktip Reef Shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

8 linked spots

Photo of Reef Manta Ray
Rays

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi

8 linked spots

Green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Moorea, French Polynesia
Turtles

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

7 linked spots

gray shark under water during daytime
Sharks

Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

6 linked spots

Photo of Snapper
Saltwater Fishes

Snapper

6 linked spots

Photo of Wrasse
Saltwater Fishes

Wrasse

6 linked spots

Gestreifter Adlerrochen ( Pteromylaeus bovinus )
Rays

Eagle Ray

5 linked spots

Photo of Grouper/Basslets
Saltwater Fishes

Grouper/Basslets

5 linked spots

brown turtle in sea
Turtles

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

5 linked spots

gray snake photography
Rays

Moray Eel

5 linked spots

gray shark in body of water
Sharks

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

5 linked spots

orange and white clown fish
Saltwater Fishes

Clownfish

4 linked spots

green and black fish in body of water
Rays

Stingrays

4 linked spots

Photo of Tuna
Saltwater Fishes

Tuna

4 linked spots

white shark under blue sky
Sharks

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

3 linked spots

Photo of Silvertip Shark
Sharks

Silvertip Shark

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

3 linked spots

Silky shark ( Carcharhinus falciformis ) at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
Sharks

Silky Shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

2 linked spots

Photo of Surgeonfish
Saltwater Fishes

Surgeonfish

Acanthuridae

2 linked spots

Photo of Tiger Shark
Sharks

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

2 linked spots

a blue and white fish in an aquarium
Saltwater Fishes

Triggerfish

2 linked spots

dolphin in body of water
Dolphins

Bottlenose Dolphin

1 linked spot

a blue and yellow fish on a coral reef
Saltwater Fishes

Damselfish

1 linked spot

Photo of Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
Rays

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

1 linked spot

Lion's mane jellyfish ( Cyanea capillata ) in Gullmarn fjord at Sämstad, Lysekil Municipality, Sweden. This specimen is about 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in) in diameter and the tentacles are about 60–80 cm (24–31 in) long. It is photographed from a jetty. The color of the background is made up from algae on
Jellyfish

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

Cyanea capillata

1 linked spot

Photo of Manatee
Other Mammals

Manatee

1 linked spot

Photo of Moon Jellyfish
Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

Aurelia aurita

1 linked spot

a fish swimming in water
Saltwater Fishes

Parrotfish

1 linked spot

Photo of Portuguese Man o'War
Jellyfish

Portuguese Man o'War

Physalia physalis

1 linked spot

Photo of Salmon
Freshwater Fishes

Salmon

1 linked spot

Photo of Sand Eel
Saltwater Fishes

Sand Eel

1 linked spot

Photo of Scalloped Hammerhead
Saltwater Fishes

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

1 linked spot

Photo of Scorpionfish
Saltwater Fishes

Scorpionfish

Scorpaenidae

1 linked spot

Photo of Shrimp
Crustaceans

Shrimp

1 linked spot

Photo of Soldierfish
Saltwater Fishes

Soldierfish

Myripristinae

1 linked spot

Photo of Spiny Seahorse
Seahorses and Pipefishes

Spiny Seahorse

Hippocampus histrix

1 linked spot

Photo of Sturgeon
Freshwater Fishes

Sturgeon

1 linked spot

Photo of Trumpetfish
Saltwater Fishes

Trumpetfish

1 linked spot