The Bora Bora lagoon in French Polynesia is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world. Swimming and diving in its shimmering turquoise crystal-clear waters is like snorkelling through the colourful splendour of a breathtaking aquarium.
Bora Bora is a paradisiacal island in the middle of the South Pacific, which belongs to the archipelago of French Polynesia. About 260 kilometres from Tahiti, Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful and also most expensive holiday islands in the world. Its dreamlike lagoon is one of our top 10 sights of the South Seas.
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PICTURES: Bora Bora Lagoon
The total area of Bora Bora is 38 square kilometres. It is dominated by a dreamlike lagoon, which has the reputation of being the most beautiful in the world. This also makes it the most important sight of Bora Bora.
The island has the classic shape of a South Sea atoll: the central mountain in the middle (the 727m high Otemanu) is surrounded by a reef and numerous small reef islands, the so-called motus. Several luxury hotels have been built on this mini patch of land, with prices per night consistently in the three-digit euro range.
Dream holiday on Bora Bora
However, the beauty of the Bora Bora lagoon is well worth the price. Its turquoise blue, crystal clear waters offer fantastic views of its rich underwater world and fine sandy white seabed.
Many of the hotels have water bungalows built on stilts directly over the lagoon and equipped with glass floors. In some, even the tables are made of glass, so that you can already observe the animal inhabitants of the lagoon during breakfast, which is delivered by canoe.
Diving and snorkelling in Bora Bora
Those who can't afford such an expensive water bungalow still don't have to miss out on Bora Bora's underwater world. The numerous beaches offer perfect diving and snorkelling spots where you feel like you are in a huge aquarium. There are also trips with the glass-bottom boat, which was used on Bora Bora for the first time.
The deeper waters of the lagoon are home to thousands of colourful coral fish as well as barracudas and small sharks, which are attracted by food on the guided diving tours. This way, even beginners can get up close and personal with these fascinating sea creatures.
On the "ray road", the diver encounters - as the name suggests - countless magnificent specimens of the fascinating rays. Swarms of up to 100 manta rays and leopard stingrays make their majestic circles here, making the ray road a world-famous diving attraction.
In the multicoloured waters of the lagoon, besides diving and swimming, sailing and jet skiing are also possible.
To explore the entire lagoon of Bora Bora, a tour of the island is a good idea. This can be done by "Le Truck", a truck converted into a public bus. However, most people, both locals and tourists, prefer to travel by bicycle or moped. With no door or roof, just a gentle sea breeze, the breathtaking beauty of Bora Bora's lagoon is simply best enjoyed.
