Many species of fishes, magnificent corals, and sea crustaceans of a thousand colors will amaze you with their diversity and large numbers within the lagoon. (It is reported that nearly 500 different species of fish live in the various Tahitian Island waters, and, although you won't see them all, you'll certainly be able to glimpse a good amount of them diving around Bora Bora!)
A strain of Caulerpa taxifolia a.k.a. Killer Algae, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, escaped public and private aquariums in California, Japan, Australia, and Monaco. It has spread widely replacing native plants and depriving marine life of food and habitat. In California, it was eradicated at considerable cost using toxic chemicals.
In the deeper waters of the open ocean, more interesting and amazing sea creatures await your discovery, including sea turtles, larger and ever more species of fishes such as barracuda, tuna, jackfish, red snapper, napoleon fish, surgeon fish, impressively sized moray eels, various rays, dolphins, various species of sharks such as the black tipped, grey, and lemon, among others, and the migrating humpback whales during the months of August through October! The powerful and graceful Manta Rays, among the world's largest, are regularly seen in Bora Bora's lagoon as well as the open waters outside of it's lagoon.
Zostera marina (eelgrass) is found on sandy substrates or in estuaries submerged or partially floating. They have long, bright green, ribbon-like leaves, about 1 cm wide. Short stems grow up from extensive, white branching rhizomes. The flowers are enclosed in the sheaths of the leaf bases, the fruits are bladdery and can float.
Perfect natural conditions create plentiful and regular growth of marine plankton in parts of Bora Bora's famous lagoon. The largest of the world's rays, the Manta Rays, are plankton eaters, and thus regularly reside in the waters of the lagoon, as well as outside in the open sea. Various other ray species such as leopard, bat, and eagle, and stingrays, are also common in Bora Bora waters. Although not as huge as Manta Rays, there is nothing quite like seeing a "school" of bat rays silently glide by you.