RANGIROA, French Polynesia — Among the Islands of Tahiti, Rangiroa is in a class all its own. 50 miles from end to end, this ring of islands is the second-largest atoll in the world.
Captain Noho takes us on a high-speed journey across the lagoon – a body of water so massive it feels more like the open sea.
Our first destination is a lagoon within the lagoon: Lagon Bleu.
Getting to "Lagon Bleu" requires a bit of a hike through highly populated water. If you wanna take a dip here, you have to be okay with swimming with sharks, but they don't bite.
The adjoining coral garden is a great place for a swim.
The giant clams here are called "pahua." Locals love to eat them raw, fresh from the sea. Those who feast upon them can sometimes assume great power.
Our next stop requires Noho to do some fancy driving through a potentially boat-killing obstacle course of reefs.
The fossilized coral structures create an otherworldly landscape, and can be as sharp as razors.
"This spot we call the Reef Island," Noho said.
Reef Island has stood guard against the sea, protecting Rangiroa, for thousands of years.
"If we don't have this reef, our island is broken," Noho said.
We head back across French Polynesia's largest lagoon to cap our adventure at a place known as Tiputa Pass. The waters have such a high population of fish it's no wonder they call this spot "The Aquarium." It's a veritable freeway of sea life moving between ocean and lagoon.
Fishing here is not allowed, because that would be just too easy.
It's been an unforgettable day of adventure in this wild and ancient corner of paradise, a Polynesian jewel called Rangiroa.
Sponsored by Air Tahiti Nui.
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