Quotes: 

“In stark contrast to the lush volcanic mountains of the Marqueses Islands, these low-lying atolls are acrid and barren, each atoll a ring-like structure stubbornly clinging to the ocean’s surface, the remnants of a forgotten reef system that once surrounded an island that has long since collapsed.”

“Below the dappled windswept surface, a vast network of tethers stretches into the deep blue.  Affixed to these lines, like clothing hung to dry, are long strands of shells.”

“These oysters lay in wait, suspended in the gentle currents of the lagoonal waters, while the precious cargo they hold continues to grow and develop….  For the cargo they hold, is the treasured Tahitian black pearl.”

“Sharks are quick to sense the vibration of a wounded fish as well as the sound of a spear gun releasing—you might as well be ringing a dinner bell when you start the hunt with spear guns…”

“The lagoon has tried to reclaim these oysters.  Their weighty shells, barely recognizable, hang heavy on the encrusted lines…”

“…They have carved out a successful business and lifestyle on this speck of land, reminding us that the finest jewels in life aren’t always those that need to be cut and polished, but are sometimes the ones left alone—those that are just below the surface…”