Video Postcard - A Journey Through the Tuamotus
There are places in the world where the ocean feels less like scenery and more like a living force.
French Polynesia is one of them.
Over nearly three weeks, we journeyed through the Tuamotus — first exploring the famed atolls of Rangiroa, then charting our own course aboard a private catamaran through remote coral islands and crystal-clear lagoons. With no rigid schedule beyond the tides, our days unfolded according to current, weather, and opportunity.
This was exploration in its truest sense.
Watch a few of our favorite encounters from Rangiroa’s resident dolphins, to the wall of sharks at Fakarava, and the graceful mantas of Toau — moments that stay with us long after we’ve surfaced.
THE FRIENDLY DOLPHINS OF RANGIROA
At Tiputa Pass, the current returned with purpose the water funnelled between ocean and lagoon. Rangiroa’s resident bottlenose dolphins turned the current into a playground. They surfed standing waves, spiralled through the blue, and darted between divers with quick flashes of eye contact — always choosing when to engage.
This is the gift of expedition-style travel: the freedom to return when conditions align, to wait when they don’t, and to let nature set the tempo.
Fakarava — The Shark Cathedral
At South Pass, we timed our descent with the incoming tide — and entered one of the most extraordinary marine gatherings on Earth.
Grey reef sharks, not in tens but in hundreds, assembled along the channel wall. Suspended in the surge, they held formation with effortless precision, silver bodies stacked against a cobalt backdrop.
Hovering just off the reef from our drifting position, we became quiet witnesses inside a living amphitheatre of predators.
No feeding.
No manipulation.
Just abundance.
Toau — Grace in the Blue
Under sail, we moved on — trading one atoll for another, anchoring off low coral motus fringed with palms.
In Toau’s luminous lagoon, the energy softened. Reef mantas appeared like shadows rising from the blue, circling slowly at cleaning stations, curious but unhurried.
The lagoon’s colors stretched from pale turquoise over the sand flats to the deep indigo of the outer reef. Then, diving in, we joined the mantas in their slow, graceful arcs — weightless in their world, an encounter we will not soon forget.
Life at Sea
Between dives, life aboard our private catamaran settled into its own rhythm.
Coffee at sunrise with flying fish scattering across glassy water.
Afternoons navigating between atolls with nothing but horizon in every direction.
Evenings at anchor beneath a vault of stars undimmed by artificial light.
The Tuamotus remain one of the last great shark strongholds on Earth. Fakarava’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protections are visible every dive, serving as a vivid reminder that marine protections truly matter.
To explore these atolls by private sail charter is to move lightly, to access remote passes at optimal tidal windows, and to experience French Polynesia in its truest form, joining its rhythms and moving with the tides of a thriving ocean.
THE EXPLORER EXPERIENCE
Beyond the extraordinary diving, snorkeling and sailing, what truly defined this journey was the camaraderie onboard. For nearly three weeks, we shared sunrises, sea stories, tropical downpours, rainbows, and plenty of laughter — welcoming new Explorers into the fold alongside seasoned Wild Earth travelers.
There is something special about gathering a small group of curious, adventurous, ocean-loving people from all corners of the world and watching friendships form so effortlessly. By the end of the voyage, we were more than fellow divers — we were a community, bound by shared experiences and a deep appreciation for the wild places we explored together.
“Dear Thomas, thank you so much for organizing and leading yet another, in your words, “EPIC” trip. The diving and good care provided by you and our crew was fantastic. We are already looking forward to our next Wild Earth Expeditions adventure. ”
“Just returned from our first trip with Thomas and his team. It was a o great we have already booked two more trips with them!
Traveling in a small group, all the details taken care of, with the best guides, in adventurous locations - simply wonderful.”
ENQUIRIES
Love this itinerary? Are you wondering when we are returning?
We are actively our next French Polynesia expedition for September 2029.
Dive the legendary passes of Rangiroa, search for tiger sharks and hammerheads in Tikehau, and cruise the Tuamotus aboard our privately chartered catamaran — with an exclusive pre-extension to Rurutu to swim with humpback whales.
This is a small-group journey, and spaces are limited. Express your interest today to be among the first to receive the full details.
PHOTO CREDIT © Thomas Baechtold, Canva & Adobe Stock