Huahine may not be a household name like Bora Bora or Tahiti—that’s because this sleepy island in the South Pacific is one of Polynesia’s best-kept secrets. Formally home to Polynesian royalty, Huahine has the highest concentration of  pre-European marae (sacred meeting places) in all of Polynesia. 

See the ancient marae and learn about the ceremonies preformed here, visit the scenic shores where the Europeans first landed and find out where religion started on this island. Your local guide Manava with Island Eco Tours will share the culture of his ancestors with you, from tales of battles and human sacrifice to the folkloric birth of Huahine. 

Bora Bora’s lagoon has enchanted visitors for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. An ideal way to experience its legendary turquoise waters is with a full- or half-day snorkel safari with Lagoon Service. During the first part of the excursion, you'll find yourself snorkeling around coral gardens, teeming with tropical fish and getting an up-close look at endemic stingrays and even black-tip reef sharks. Don’t worry, they’re friendly. 

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the overwater bungalow with superswell VR's 360° video tour of the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa

What image comes to mind when you think of Bora Bora? Chances are it’s the overwater bungalow—French Polynesia’s signature accommodations that just happen to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Unlike a typical hotel room, the thatched-roof overwater bungalows of Bora Bora sit above turquoise lagoon waters. Each bungalow offers a glass-bottom feature, so you can actually spot tropical fish swimming beneath your feet. In this VR video, see the overwater bungalows of the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa and other highlights of the resort including a canoe breakfast, beach activities and a killer sunset.

It’s hard to imagine a destination that could look better in virtual reality than the islands of Tahiti, from its coral gardens and overwater bungalows to its epic purple sunsets. Naturally, when superswell VR was given a prototype of the world’s first true 3­-D omniview camera, we grabbed our swimsuits and headed straight to the island paradise of French Polynesia. 

But shooting with a prototype camera in unpredictable conditions wasn't without its challenges (i.e. "dude, this sh*t is hard").

So what happens when you expose a prototype VR camera to extreme heat, high humidity, salt water, aggressive wind and sharks? Watch the video below to find out.