The Blacktip reef shark is a common shark found mostly near the coral reefs of Indo-Pacific waters. Normally a shy creature, it is nevertheless curious of snorkelers; especially snorkelers on organized tours.
Shark Feeding Tours in Bora Bora
The beautiful island of Bora Bora is the jewel in Tahiti’s crown, with turquoise lagoon waters surrounding the dark green slopes and black cliffs of a volcano remnant. The majority of tourist accommodation is near the water, so any one of a dozen shark feeding tour companies can arrange pick-up from a hotel’s own jetty.
One such hotel is the Intercontinental Resort and Thalasso Spa, one of Tahiti’s latest eco-resorts, whose pontoon commands a stunning view of Mount Otemanu, the island’s showpiece. With everyone safely on board, the tour boat sets off from here towards open water on the other side of the barrier reef. To pass the time, one of the friendly guides plays traditional Tahitian music on guitar while his colleagues distribute snorkels and flippers.
Snorkeling With the Sharks
Before long, with surf breaking over the reef either side of the chosen gap, the boat is slicing through darker, choppier water as it enters the open sea. The crew cut the engine, leaving the boat bobbing on the waves, and buckets of bait are brought out. As streamlined shapes begin to surround the vessel, the atmosphere on board changes from excitement to trepidation as people are instructed to remove rings, watches; in fact anything that glitters. Despite assurances from the guides that no one has ever been bitten, every passenger is thinking of the one word that has been omitted. Yet.
As if to prove his point, one of the guides jumps in wearing only traditional yellow shorts. When it becomes clear that, far from being torn to shreds, he is happily swimming amongst the sharks and tropical fish, people finally climb down the ladder and slip below the surface.
The Blacktip reef shark can grow to two meters in length, but the average length is around one meter. Their shape is unmistakable; sleek lines, light brown skin, blunt snout and the black-tipped dorsal fins for which they are named. Whilst they look impressive in pictures, the experience of having ten of them fight for food only a few feet away is not to be missed.
Once the fear of being bitten dissipates, it’s possible to enjoy the whole thing rather than concentrating on where the next arrow with teeth is coming from. The guides throw bait in a wide arc, attracting not only the sharks, but also hundreds of the most wonderfully colored tropical fish. Each tries to nibble as much as possible before their morsel is torn away by the much bigger Blacktips.
Ten meters below is the coral reef, where the more timid fish flit around, sucking up tiny particles that rain down from the feeding frenzy. The sea floor is alive with shimmering color and, occasionally, a Moray Eel pops its head out to witness the commotion.
When the time comes to leave, it’s as difficult to get people out of the water as it was to get them in. Eventually the boat heads for the lagoon, sometimes stopping off to feed Stingrays on the way back. Stepping onto the jetty back at the hotel, it’s clear that nothing was lost in the water except the fear of these magnificent creatures.
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