Rarotonga is home to some of, if not the best, marine life in all of the South Pacific. Nearly everyone I know who has visited numerous South Pacific Islands have all said the best snorkelling was in Rarotonga. Which is no surprise, given how untouched the Cook Islands are, and the work that goes into keeping it that way.
For its size, you’ll be blown away by the Cook Islands’ sheer variety of marine life one can witness. Where else in the world can you swim among thriving coral reefs, discover turtle and manta ray colonies or watch humpback whales all at once, from the exact same beach?
No trip to Rarotonga is complete without exploring below the surface, in one way or another. The best way to do this is to get yourself on one of many guided snorkelling, diving or boat tours in Rarotonga. My travel guide will entail all of the best tours & tips for your experience, plus draw from my very own.
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- 1. Lagoon cruise (Captain Tama’s & Koka)
- 2. Turtle Tour in Avaavaroa Passage
- 3. Turtle Tour (With Sea Scooters)
- 4. Kayaking & Night Time Paddle Boarding
- 5. Scuba Diving in Rarotonga
- 6. Chartered Fishing Boat
- 7. Aitutaki Day-trip
- Read My Cook Islands Budget Travel Guide!
- Related Cook Islands Blog Posts
1. Lagoon cruise (Captain Tama’s & Koka)
The best guided snorkelling tour in Rarotonga is with either Captain Tama’s or Koka Lagoon Cruises. One of these trips (they both follow the same itinerary) must be on your bucket list in Rarotonga. They offer a fun, cultural and adventurous experience for all travellers and all ages, guaranteed to be a highlight!
You’ll spend a few hours cruising on Rarotonga’s lagoon, with fantastic guides onboard a glass-bottom boat or ‘vaka’ (traditional canoe). There are stops to snorkel, local legends told by guides, fish feeding, and later on, a beach BBQ on one of the Muri motus (islets/small islands) – all while soaking up maybe just the best atmosphere on the island!
The only difference between Captain Tama’s and Koka, is that Captain Tama’s has the very loud and lively atmosphere, whereas Koka is laid back (and very slightly cheaper).
2. Turtle Tour in Avaavaroa Passage
We pre-booked a Turtle Snorkelling Tour with Snorkel Cook Islands – and wow, what an experience, this was easily the highlight of my trip. Rarotonga has a turtle sanctuary in Avaavaroa Passage, a crevice in the lagoon on the southern coast. Multiple tour operators run snorkelling tours here on weekdays (when weather permits), and if you’re on a budget, and going to splurge on one thing in Rarotonga, this should be it!
The crystal clear waters of Avaavaroa Passage are a dream, with huge coral gardens, and the friendly sea turtles swimming up to you within arms’ length (just don’t touch them). The water is 25m deep, so you can’t see the bottom (although if you’re lucky, Manta Rays deep down), however, that’s the last thing on your mind while you’re breathtaken, if nervous.
Book your tour for a date early in your trip. If the weather is bad, most of the companies offer unlimited rescheduling (The tours happened on only 2 out of the 10 days during our visit!)
My family did the $89 tour with Snorkel Cook Islands, and they were fantastic. It takes a good 2 hours, is very safe, the numerous guides are fantastic, and they took epic underwater photos for everyone.
Travel Tip: Make sure to book your turtle tour with a reputable provider. There are many turtle and snorkelling tour operators on Rarotonga that look legit, but are sadly not safe (usually selling at the markets). Thoroughly check reviews beforehand!
3. Turtle Tour (With Sea Scooters)
If you’re not as confident swimming in open water, or want to snorkel below the surface, book your turtle tour with a sea scooter. These tours usually cost more, but are in smaller groups, and the swimming is done for you! Everyone I know who has done a a sea scooter said it was worth it, so it probably is for you too.
I recommend Ariki Adventures for your sea scooter turtle tour. They are the most popular and reputable for this type. Ariki also run sea scooter tours in other parts of the lagoon, including around the RMS Maitai shipwreck.
4. Kayaking & Night Time Paddle Boarding
If you’re not into getting wet, or want yet another awesome lagoon adventure, consider a kayaking trip or night time paddle boarding on Muri Lagoon. Most resorts have kayaks and paddleboards you can use if staying there. If not, there are many places to hire them around the island.
If you are going to hire, do it in Muri. The Muri Lagoon is a much bigger area, and the islands make the trip more interesting. Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruises or KiteSUP Cook Islands are the best places to hire kayaks and paddleboards.
Night time paddleboarding tours are done on Muri Lagoon too, and I recommend KiteSUP Cook Islands’ ‘Fire on Water’ tour at sunset. Their paddleboards have bright LEDs attached, with an awesome lagoon view beneath the stars, and a fire show on one of the Muri motus.
5. Scuba Diving in Rarotonga
Rarotonga offers incredible scuba diving just beyond its fringing reef, with clear visibility, dramatic drop-offs, coral canyons, and abundant marine life. Certified divers can explore over 50 sites, such as The Wall or The Sand River, where you might spot turtles, reef sharks, and colourful fish in pristine conditions. This isn’t even to mention even more incredible sites around Aitutaki.
On Rarotonga, the best scuba diving tours are run by Dive Rarotonga, Pacific Divers and Adventure Cook Islands. Rarotonga is also among the best places in the South Pacific to take PADI courses for all abilities. In Aitutaki, use Dive Aitutaki.
6. Chartered Fishing Boat
Take a fishing boat just minutes from Rarotonga’s shore, and the reef drops off into deep blue waters teeming with game fish including mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and marlin. Whether you’re a seasoned angler, or trying deep-sea fishing for the first time, local fishing charters make it easy to get out on the water.
On Rarotonga, I would recommend Akura Fishing Charters, Marlin Queen Fishing Charters and WaHoo Fishing Charters. There are others too who are good companies to charter with, but always do a background check first before booking. All fishing gear is provided, and you often get to keep what you catch. Aitutaki is also great for fishing charters, plus fly fishing, but can be more expensive. Black Pearl Charters and Bonefish E2’s Way are the best in Aitutaki.
7. Aitutaki Day-trip
Visiting Aitutaki for a few days, or even on a day trip, is by far the best thing to do in the Cook Islands (only if money was not an object!). The marine life in Aitutaki’s lagoon is untouched to a level that will be soon near impossible to find.
If you decide to do the Aitutaki day trip, the tour includes a boat trip snorkelling in Aitutaki lagoon. You’ll stop at multiple places, and will see a huge variety of marine life, including giant clams, vibrant coral gardens, and giant trevally. Definitively, it is the clear waters of the Aitutaki lagoon that will leave you breathtaken, making Aitutaki a true bucket list destination.
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