Booking choice: The Lagoon Service full day, from $172 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
On a guided lagoon tour the shark swim is not a cage dive or a thrill ride. The guides take you to sandy, clear spots where blacktip reef sharks and stingrays gather, and you snorkel at the surface while they swim around you.
Below: what you will see, what the operators ask of you, and which tours include the shark and ray stops.
The quick answer
Yes, you can swim with sharks in Bora Bora on most guided lagoon tours. You snorkel with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays under the guides' eye, and on Lagoon Service's full day the shark swim is optional. You do need to know how to swim. Sharks are protected across French Polynesia.
Can you swim with sharks in Bora Bora?
Yes. Most lagoon tours include a stop where you snorkel with blacktip reef sharks, usually together with stingrays.
Lagoon Service's full day has three snorkel stops: stingrays in shallow water, a coral garden, and a swim with sharks. Guests describe sharks and rays at more than one stop, and a deeper stop outside the reef with clear "blue water" and many blacktips.
Want the shark and ray stops plus lunch on a motu? Check dates for the full day.
Check dates for the Lagoon Service full dayIs it safe to swim with sharks in Bora Bora?
The swims are guided: the crew picks the spot, briefs you and stays close, and on Lagoon Service's day you can stay on the canoe instead.
The operator says participants may swim with the sharks if they wish, so nobody has to get in. Follow the guide's instructions, keep your hands to yourself and stay with the group. If you have heart problems, back problems or are pregnant, the listing advises against the tour altogether.
Which sharks will you see?
Mostly blacktip reef sharks; the operator also mentions lemon sharks outside the reef.
Blacktip reef sharks are named for the black tips of their fins, and they appear in nearly every Bora Bora snorkelling photo. Moana's eco snorkel also lists lemon sharks among the species you may see. As with all wildlife, numbers vary from day to day.
What about the stingrays?
The stingray stop is in shallow water, where the rays glide right up to you.
Vavau's listing describes stingrays that have adapted to human feedings and come close enough to see, or even touch. Your guide shows you how to behave around them. Lagoon Service's half-day listing mentions hand-feeding the stingrays with your guide.
Are sharks protected in French Polynesia?
Yes. French Polynesia declared a shark sanctuary across its waters in 2012.
Treat them as wild animals: watch, do not chase or grab, and leave the coral alone.
Do you need to be a good swimmer?
You need to be able to swim: the operator says so, and the shark stop is in deeper water than the stingray stop.
You do not need to be a strong swimmer. One Lagoon Service guest who was not confident in the water wrote that the captain and his partner helped them enjoy the activity. If you cannot swim at all, ask the operator before booking, or watch from the canoe.
Want a shorter first taste? Moana's 2.5-hour eco snorkel visits the shark and stingray spots and is back before lunch.
Explore the Moana eco snorkelWhich tour is best for sharks and rays?
Lagoon Service's full day if you want three stops and a motu lunch; Moana's eco snorkel if you only have a morning.
Vavau's full day adds a search for manta rays and port pickup. Half days from H2O and Reef Discovery are built around the coral garden and the rays, with sharks on the way. Compare them all in Bora Bora lagoon tour prices.
Ready to meet the rays? Lagoon Service's full day includes all three stops and lunch.
Check dates for the Lagoon Service full dayWill you see manta rays too?
Maybe: some tours look for manta rays and many guests see them, but no operator can promise it.
Reef Discovery and H2O guests often mention manta rays and eagle rays, and Vavau's cruise includes a manta search on the way to the coral garden. Dolphins and turtles also turn up in some reviews. Treat any of them as a bonus.
Frequently asked questions
Do the sharks bite?
The guided stops are with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays, and the crews choose the spots and stay with you. Follow the guide, keep your hands to yourself and you can always stay on the boat.
Can kids swim with the sharks?
Children who can swim can join, with a child rate from age 4 on Lagoon Service's tours. The shark swim is optional.
Is the water cold?
Guests describe warm, clear water inside the lagoon, and one wrote that the water outside the reef was even warmer.
Do I need my own snorkel gear?
No. Lagoon Service provides snorkel equipment and towels. Moana provides a mask and snorkel and suggests bringing your own if you have one.
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Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Lagoon Service Full Day Group Tour
- Snorkel stops for stingrays, a coral garden and sharks
- Buffet lunch of local dishes on a motu
- Soft drinks, bottled water and towels
Moana Eco Snorkel: Sharks & Stingrays
A short trip to see sharks and rays
Sharks, Stingrays & Motu Lunch Cruise
- Local guide and snorkel equipment
- Stingray stop, coral garden and a manta ray search
- Buffet lunch on a private motu: grilled meats, fish, salads, fruit
