Bora Bora Lagoon Cruise: Snorkel with Sharks and Stingrays

Spend a full day in the lagoon without arranging the boat, the lunch, or the timing.

A full-day guided cruise around Bora Bora's lagoons includes snorkeling with black-tip reef sharks and stingrays, a beachside lunch with a salade bar on a small island, and a live Polynesian cultural performance. The guide speaks English or French, hotel pickup is included, and snorkeling gear is provided; the day runs six hours and suits all fitness levels.

The Experience

You get picked up from your hotel and driven to the boat, so the logistics stop being your problem. The cruise itself circles the lagoons—you'll snorkel in coral gardens where the fish are thick and the water is clear, then move to the areas where stingrays and black-tip reef sharks gather. The guide handles the route and the timing, and the snorkeling equipment is there waiting for you.

Lunch happens on a small island: a BBQ with a salade bar, served by hosts who know how to make the afternoon feel unhurried. After eating, there's a beachside performance of Polynesian culture—not a staged show in a resort ballroom, but something that happens on the sand while you're still sitting there. The whole day is six hours, which means you're back at your hotel with time left in the afternoon.

Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses; the sun on the water is direct and the reflection is strong. The guide will point out the fish and the sharks and explain what you're looking at, so even if you've never snorkeled before, you'll know what's happening underwater.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• snorkeling equipment.
• a local guide speaking English or French.
• a full BBQ lunch with salade bar on a small island.
• and a beachside Polynesian cultural performance.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Vavau 4x4 Adventures

Is this one for you?Spend your day on the water with everything arranged—boat, lunch, timing, and a cultural performance—so you just show up and experience the lagoons instead of planning it yourself.

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Top questions

What's it actually like to snorkel with sharks and stingrays in Bora Bora?

Black-tip reef sharks are small and move fast; stingrays are flat and gentle on the lagoon floor. Both are accustomed to snorkelers, and the guide positions the group so you see them without crowding them. The coral gardens around them are where most of the color and the smaller fish are.

Is the lunch included in the price, or do I pay extra?

Lunch is included—a BBQ with a salade bar served on the small island. Drinks are part of the package as well.

Do I need to know how to snorkel, or will the guide teach me?

The tour suits all fitness levels, and snorkeling equipment is provided. The guide will show you how to use the gear and stay comfortable in the water; first-time snorkelers are welcome.

What time does the cruise leave, and when will I be back at my hotel?

The full-day cruise runs six hours total. Hotel pickup is included, so the guide will collect you in the morning and return you in the afternoon; exact times depend on your hotel location and the operator's schedule.

Will I understand the Polynesian performance if I don't speak French?

The performance is visual and cultural rather than narrative, so language is not a barrier. Your guide speaks English or French and can explain the traditions and the movements if you want that context.

What should I bring besides sunscreen?

Bring a hat and sunglasses—the sun reflects hard off the water. Snorkeling gear is provided, and the boat has shade, but the exposed parts of the day are bright. A light cover-up or rash guard helps if you're sensitive to sun.