Some of the largest waves in the world break on South Pacific islands.

Their birth sums up the scale of this ocean.

The storm swell that made these waves

Has travelled 3,000 miles to reach this shallow reef.

These distances proved a great challenge for animal castaways

But when they found new land, many evolved into new species.

Human colonisers followed similar routes,

And the ocean that isolated them from the rest of the world

Became central to their culture.

The big waves were an inspiration,

And riding them has been a tradition here for more than 1,500 years.