It’s hard to tell exactly where the sea ends and the sky begins on Tahiti’s largest atoll, the second biggest in the world, Rangiroa. Even its name means “endless skies.” Looking a bit like a lovely necklace from the air, Rangiroa’s stunning coral reefs surround bright turquoise lagoons. There are more than 200 miniature motus, or tiny islands, set along this delicate reef, providing some of the planet’s best scuba diving and snorkeling. Located about 220 miles from the island of Tahiti, it is part of the Palliser group of islands, named in honor of Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser by Captain James Cook in 1774. Unlike many other Tahitian islands, Rangiroa is flat with no mountains.

The water means everything in this diver’s paradise. It comes in nearly every shade of blue you can imagine, and even some you have to see to believe.  Here, the serene lagoon moana-tea (Peaceful Ocean) meets the open waters of  moana-uri (Wild Ocean), where whales, dolphins, sharks and manta rays roam. In between dives, vacationers can wander through Rangiroa’s charming villages of Tiputa and Avotoru, learn about the dance and culture of these enchanting French Polynesian isles, or search for the perfect black pearl.