Armada

The shark wall of French Polynesia is something I’ve often thought about while diving the Shark Blue Hole here in The Bahamas. I always wondered how the experience would compare, and when I finally had the opportunity to dive the Shark Wall, it did not disappoint. Positioned in a narrow passage between two islands, the current is incredibly strong, and the grey reef sharks use it almost like a resting area, conserving energy as they swim against the flow. As divers, we had to drift with the current, timing our dive with the tide to ensure the best conditions. Unlike the Shark Blue Hole in The Bahamas, where the sharks are constantly on the move, these sharks often appeared almost motionless, holding their position against the current. This photo was taken during a drift dive along a shark wall in French Polynesia. Our dive group went first, drifting with the current for about 20 minutes until we reached the right spot. Once there, our instructor signaled us to stay close to the wall—out of the direct current—so we could use it as cover while the sharks passed by. When the first few sharks started cruising through, I looked over at my dive instructor and gave the signal asking if I could swim out into the school. Once I got the green light, I pushed off from the wall and slowly drifted toward the sharks, careful not to kick or exhale bubbles that might spook them. What happened next is what you see in this photo. I had one chance—one single drift—to line up the shot as the sharks surrounded me. There was no going back, no second try. The current was too strong to turn around. That moment, that flow, that shot... it was all or nothing. Seeing so many sharks in one area was a clear sign of the thriving coral reef ecosystem surrounding them.