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Air: 25.0 °C / 25.0 °F Water: 26 °C / 79 °F 
A Few Clouds - RH: 74% - Wind: South at 6.9 MPH (6 KT) (F2 160°)
A Few Clouds - RH: 74% - Wind: South at 6.9 MPH (6 KT) (F2 160°)
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Rarotonga is home to some of the best and most diverse diving in the Pacific - there are about 35 dive sites around the island that we dive and of these, there are some that are consistently better than the rest. Click on a dive flag on the map below to find out more about the dive site.
To view information on a particular dive site, click on its dive flag icon
With lots of coral bommies and a full array of pretty reef fish, Alberto's is a fantastic shallow site for the novice diver, or the experienced diver who likes to take photos. Only a short hop from Avarua Harbour but a picturesque dive site for finding those stonefish and lionfish, not to mention the moray eels!
Coral running alongside a sand area that leads into a sandy drop off. See the anchor caught between two large coral bommies at 24m. This is an ideal dive for all levels. Those qualified can experience the drop off's full splendour from a deeper perspective, while shallower dives give a wide view of its curving nature. This is the perfect site to get yourself stuck into exploring and see what you can see.
A site rich with fish life and a coral landscape that provides a stunning backdrop. This is a site for the explorer, with plenty to see in and around all the swimthroughs and bommies. Keep an eye out for the huge numbers of fish that will come in close to have a good look at you and see if you can spot the local 'celebrity' fish 'Monty' and 'Tommy'.
This rich coral area is one of the most spectacular coral gardens around the Cook Islands. The beautifully pronounced mushroom shaped bommies rise all around, making this a truly picturesque dive site. This is a great place to explore, and a favourite with eagle rays in season.
The M. V. Mataora, once a Tongan registered 395hp cargo vessel, 44.25m in length and 299 gross tonnes, was purchased on the 11th Dec 1990 for the massive sum of $1 by Dive Rarotonga!! She started her last voyage to the sea bed a couple of days later and now lies in 18m just off the reef to the north of the island. Despite the fact that the wreck has now been broken up by a number of cyclones, this is a great place to search out those lionfish, even the rarer oscillated variety. We also spend some of the dive in the beautiful coral garden surrounding the wreck.
Apparently named after a couple of very nice Swiss girls...named by Eric by any chance? This is a very nice coral garden with the usual suspects to hunt out and coral to explore. A favourite hang out for the elusive Spanish Dancer nudibranch and whitemouth moray.
A very stunning 'river of sand' flanked on each side with beautiful coral outcrops, lots of fish and cute little critters! The sand river flows down to an amazing drop-off, edged with interesting caverns and swim-throughs for the more experienced diver. Whitetip reef sharks are often found relaxing on the sand, napoleon wrasse, bluefin trevally and barracuda are also favourites at this site.
Swimming across the river above the sand gives you the closest feeling to weightlessness you'll get this side of space!
Another great place to see the amazing drop-offs at the north-east of the island. The reef slopes progressively downwards to a steep drop-off with coral nooks and crannies either side. Also good for spotting the whitetip reef sharks along the drop-off, or a beautifully scenic site to just sit and play with the ever-curious reef fish.
A recent addition to our favourites list! A beautiful coral bommie laden site with some big overhangs and a sudden, eerie end of coral at 26m. This somehow must be the preferred choice for white tip reef sharks as they seem to like it here!
The Matavera drop off gives a real sense of how deep the ocean around our small island really is. Anchoring in a shallow reef area full of fish life is a lovely way to begin and end your dive. With a short swim, you will be able to see the drop off as the reef falls away underneath you, and maybe see some of the local shark population sleeping on the slopes, unconcerned by your presence.
Ok, so can anyone pronounce that?!? A beautifully scenic dive with lots of coral bommies creating interesting formations to swim around and explore. As the name suggests, there is also a drop off, which makes for an interesting diversion!
Opening up from the pretty Avana lagoon, this site is a broad sandy passage with large coral formations and plenty of marine life. Ending in a steep drop-off, it's great for the more experienced diver too. There are several channels to explore and some deep blue water to gaze into and hope for passing sharks!.
A steep drop off from about 20m, not for the faint hearted! You'll find lots of interesting critters, and if you're lucky, spotted eagle rays, grey reef sharks, and whitetip reef sharks.
Explore the often fast moving water of the passage with the chance of seeing sharks and turtles hanging in the current.
This dive site is only suitable for experienced divers. The passages of the south can be dangerous and this site has to be treated with caution. We will not take you diving here if the conditions are not suitable.
A stunning drop-off at the end of Avaavaroa passage. A great site to make you feel small in the deep blue! A swim out from the reef over a very steep wall allows the feeling of having a bottomless abyss below. The larger pelagics can often be seen in the distance, and whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays are common in this area.
Explore around a stunning natural opening in the reef with a chance of seeing eagle rays swim over the sand below. This is also a great site for seeing turtles if you have the stamina to fight the current into the passage!
Parts of this dive site are only suitable for experienced divers. The passages of the south can be dangerous in certain conditions. We will assess the dive site on any particular day to ensure it's a comfortable dive for those on the trip.
This is another stunning passage with steep walls and bowls to explore. Again, you may need some stamina to get into the passage but the views are worth it!
Parts of this dive site are only suitable for experienced divers. The passages of the south can be dangerous in certain conditions. We will assess the dive site on any particular day to ensure it's a comfortable dive for those on the trip.
Follow Rutaki Passage down to an awesome drop-off where a school of Barracuda can often be seen hanging in the deep blue. You really feel small when you look down to what looks like the ends of the earth! Trevally, several types of tuna, and other hunters often gather at this site.
The south-west point off The Rarotongan Resort often has currents from two sides of the island. A nice reef dive for the fitter diver! This can be an exciting dive with a chance to see some of the bigger pelagic fish and sharks hunting including the occasional oceanic whitetip!
The west coast has a lot less coral than the pretty gardens of the north of the island, but still makes for interesting diving. This site boasts a huge coral bommie feature situated on the drop off, between about 22 and 30m. It's a good place for scorpionfish, stonefish, lionfish, anything that can sting you basically!!.
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A shallow passage through from the lagoon (not by boat!) is an interesting diversion for the explorers amongst you.There are some canyons and swim-thoughs where Schooling eagle rays are often found.
A shallow, curving coral shelf leads to swim-through caves with overhead breaks to the surface. The caves are a great introduction to an overhead environment for the beginner, as there are several different exit points and plenty of light from above. The shallow coral shelf also houses a wide variety of reef life, the exploration of which is the perfect way to complete your safety stop.
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The Maritime Reefer was a large fishing vessel sunk by Dive Rarotonga in 1981. Subsequent cyclones have broken up the wreck into 2 main sections and left it in 24m of water. With a resident giant moray, plenty of lionfish, as well as the usual suspects, this is a picturesque advanced dive in a rich reef area.
Another cave/cavern system but this is a bigger one! Enter through a well hidden fissure in the reef followed by a chain of interspersed large caverns that affords the diver the likes of lionfish, moray eels, spanish dancers and even sometimes a resident white tip sleeping in a dark corner of the ending cavern.
An interesting coral ridge running out from the cavern systems. Some pretty reef fish are aound, including triggerfish mating and 'nesting' in season.
An interesting cavern when the conditions are right. A favourite with Spanish Dancers and other pretty coloured nudibranches. Elegant spotted eaglerays can sometimes be seen schooling around this area.
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This is a great shallow Wreck dive. The steam ship SS Maitai struck the reef on Christmas Eve in 1916 and sank!. You can see lots of the ship in shallow water with fantastic clarity. The main features include the huge propellor shaft, parts of the engine, as well as the ship's hull plating. For those less technical amongst us, there's also a great variety of marine life living in and around the wreck. This is a good hiding place for timid porcupine pufferfish, octopus, moray eels and much more.
The opposite side of the passage from Edna's Anchor, this is a stunning drop-off site where you can hang in mid-water to look down into the deep blue water below. For the less adventurous (or experienced!) there's a multitude of coral bommies where you can look for moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, and beautiful little reef fish. .
There are some really nice coral, overhangs and swimthroughs to explore at this site. Particularly good around 18 to 24m. We quite often see turtles, whitetip reef sharks lazing under overhangs and lots of pretty reef fish.
No, you won't find any skull and cross bones! This is a pretty coral garden and a good alternative to 'Paradise' when it's a bit windy out the north! Lots of the usual reef fish, turtles, the odd whitetip reef shark and napoleon wrasse on a good day..
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