Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, 1997
Photograph by David Doubilet A school of fish swims over a coral formation in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Like a few grains of rice sprinkled on a sea of blue, the French territory in the South Pacific is a paltry 1,359 square miles (3,520 square kilometers) of land scattered over one million square miles (2.6 million square kilometers) of ocean, an area as large as Western Europe. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Turtle, French Polynesia, 1997
Photograph by David Doubilet Like a baby bird embarking on its first flight, a just-hatched turtle, flippers outspread and eyes wide, swims just below the ocean's surface in the waters of French Polynesia. In addition to a dazzling variety of wildlife, including several marine turtle species, the archipelago's rich lagoons spawn a treasure available in few other places: black pearls. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Fish Tail, French Polynesia, 1997
Photograph by David Doubilet Even from its tail end, a Napoleon wrasse fish swimming through the waters of French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago is instantly recognizable by the electric blue patterns coating its fins and scales. But these fish are distinctive from any end. Headfirst, they're known for their spiky teeth and plump, swollen lips that absorb the prickles of the bristly reef creatures on which they feed. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Sharks and Grunts, French Polynesia, 1997
Photograph by David Doubilet In the fertile waters of French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago, a school of blue-striped grunts beats a fast retreat as a pair of blacktip reef sharks lurk in the distance. Although the nutrient-poor soil of the French territory limits its terrestrial flora and fauna, the archipelago's waters are among the world's most scenic, species-rich spots. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Pearl Station and Reef, French Polynesia, 1996
Photograph by David Doubilet A split shot shows a coral reef beneath a pearl workstation in French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago. The region, a 900-mile (1,450-kilometer) arc of 76 sparsely populated atolls and two islands, is one of the world's primary producers of cultured black pearls. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Scorpion Fish, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, 1997
Photograph by David Doubilet A scorpion fish attempts to hide in the sand in French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago. Masters of disguise, scorpion fish use cryptic coloring and specialized appendages to help them hide from predators and surprise prey. What happens when its cover is blown? The fish uses its highly venomous dorsal spines in a lightning-quick attack. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Black Pearls of French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
View of Lagoon, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia, 1996
Photograph by Jodi Cobb This blue-on-blue scene in a Bora-Bora lagoon is interrupted only by a pair of boats, a lone white seabird, and a line of frothy breakers in the distance. Found in French Polynesia 165 miles (265 kilometers) west of Tahiti, the island of Bora-Bora is what remains of an ancient sunken volcano. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "French Polynesia: Charting a New Course," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Butterfly, Polynesia, 2003
Photograph by Tim Laman Blue-and-white eyespots adorn the velvety black wings of a butterfly on a Polynesian island. The diffuse Pacific islands make up some 1,400 specks of land scattered across an expanse of ocean more than twice the size of the continental United States. Unique ecosystems here force animals to adapt into subspecies that are often endemic to a single island. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Islands of the Pacific," March 2003, National Geographic magazine)
Breaking Surf, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia, 1997 Photograph by Jodi Cobb Lacy breakers lap the coral reef that rings Bora-Bora, an ancient sunken volcano 165 miles (266 kilometers) northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia's Society Islands. Surrounded by sugar-white beaches, an electric-blue lagoon, and some of the clearest water on the planet, Bora-Bora is home to hundreds of species of tropical fish. Not surprisingly, it's one of the world's top spots for divers. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "French Polynesia: Charting a New Course," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
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