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Site Map
We have many sites located around Rarotonga.
Our boat is on a trailer so we launch and dive wherever the weather
is best.
Ednas
Anchor. A wide sand channel falling over the drop like
a ski slope is flanked by coral formed terrain with recovering
hard corals (Favids, Pocillopora and Acropora
species most common) found in depths shallower than 14m. Out deeper
between 15 and 22 metres Porites and Montipora
dominate with several small fish finding refuge amongst the coral.
At 22 metres lies an anchor, it's chain can still be seen draped
over the neighboring coral bommie. The site has 2 other anchors,
from the days of Rarotonga being frequented by whaling ships.
At the drop off this site can be quite spectacular with a vertical
drop to 70 metres from the top of a feature at 28m. A swim out
into the blue can be inviting, but watch that dive computer! Depth
range 8m to 45m+, suitable for all levels of experience. Top^
 Smurf
City. Don't expect to see any little blue people here,
but the ancient Porites coral bommies form a sea scape
that looks like a field of giant mushrooms. This site on the North
coast is a favorite for friendly fish and has some of the best
coral cover on Rarotonga. It provides easy diving and is enjoyed
by all. This is a favorite site for photographers and discover
scuba's due to the friendly fish life encountered up close. Depth
range 10m to 22m, suitable for beginners, junior divers and fish
lovers. Top^
Coral
Garden. This site is similar to Smurf City but has some
of it's own distinctive characteristics. There are vast Montipora
colonies at 16m to 18m which give this site it's name. Other hard
corals are well represented here also and at 20m there are some
nice open swim through's that sometimes have white tip reef sharks
hidden inside. Depth range 14m to 22m,
suitable for all certified divers. Top^
Mataora
wreck. The Miss Mataora was sunk for diving about 20 years
ago. She lies in 12m to 18m and has been well broken up by cyclones
that batter this coast from time to time. The coral terrain around
the wreck, especially out deeper, is quite nice and a good dive
at this site will cover both the coral terrain and the wreck.
Clear fin and Spot fin Lion fish are often found on the wreck.
Depth range 12m to 25m, suitable for
all divers and courses. Top^
Sand
river. A broad sandy feature running out over the reef.
Interestingly this underwater passage does not originate from
a channel or stream from the island. At 25m there are overhangs
and bommies that often have white tip reef sharks lazing in them.
There is the opportunity to swim out into the blue or traverse
across the drop off to a ridge on the other side of the channel.
Napoleon Wrasse are sometimes found here and in the right season,
large schools of bluefin trevally can be seen hunting juvenile
surgeon fish on the reef. Depth range
14m to 50m+, suitable for all certified divers and technical deep
dives. Top^
The
gap. Accessed from the same mooring site as Sand river,
the gap is a sloping bottom of sand and coral bommies with lots
of overhangs and tight swim through's. The drop off can be observed
as you swim along the coral terrain at about 20m before coming
over a ridge to the gap. The dive is a more casual approach to
the sand river site and is more suitable for those less experienced
divers who are not comfortable with a swim out over deep water.
Depth range 10m to 30m, suitable for
all certified divers. Top^
Matavera
wall. Accessed from the beautiful Avana harbour, Matavera
wall and drop off offers a sanctuary from rough weather from the
NW. The wall starts reasonable shallow at 18m and drops to about
50m before sloping out again to another drop at about 80m. There
are some interesting features up shallow and some sand pools at
about 8m make this a god site for course dives as well. Depth
range 8m to 30m+, suitable for all divers and courses.
Top^
Ngatangiia
school. A good site for training and
novice divers. The drop off starts to slope off at around 20m
and coral bommies on the drop off top out at 16m so it is a site
where a new diver can see into the abyss and still be within reasonable
depth limits. A feature of this site is a giant coral bommie that
has been tipped completely upside down by a cyclone and rests
on the edge of the drop off. The underside, now the top, is flat
and resembles a pavement. We call it the table top. Depth
range 10m to 25m, suitable for all divers and courses.
Top^
Sunrise.
Coral bommies, sponges and reef fish make this site fairly colourful
although it is limited in it's extent. Used mainly as a training
site, occasionally eagle rays can be seen cruising past at the
drop off. Depth range 10m to 25m, suitable
for all divers and courses. Top^
Avana
passage. This site is extensive enough
to require 3 dives to fully dive it. You can start inside the
lagoon and drift out to the broad sandy passage with large coral
formations rising up. An ancient Porites bommie sits tilted to
45 deg, still growing. The broad, sandy, steep drop off is very
good for deep dives and has two separate channels to explore.
An underwater ridge runs out about 100m, the ridge line between
30m and 45m deep. The steep walls drop off to the blue and sharks
can be seen cruising the area. Between 15m and 18m this site has
a multitude of interesting features. Depth
range 14m to 45m+, suitable for all certified divers and experienced
or tec divers. Top^
Ta'akoka.
The terrain on the SE side of the island was severely degraded
in tropical cyclone some years back and has not recovered. This
site is only dived with weather restricts diving at other locations.
The bottom is quite flat, sloping gently to the drop off at about
25m. Often tuna and other oceanic fish can be seen on this coast.
Depth range 10m to 25m, suitable for
all divers and courses. Top^
Bella
Beach. A steep drop off from 18m this site can be dived
like a wall. The reef flat has a couple of small channels and
the water is usually very clear. Quite a relaxing site to dive,
slow pace, can be susceptible to surge. Depth
range 10m to 30m, suitable for all divers.
Top^
The
Abyss. A complex of sand channels finger their way out
to the drop off. The eastern most channels down to a narrow gorge
likely formed thousands of years ago when a lower sea level had
the reef exposed. The wall is very steep and it is easy to swim
out off the reef with the bottomless abyss below. Adventuring
around the sand fingers is pleasurable with occasional sharks,
eagle rays and turtles. Parrot fish often congregate here also
for spawning. Depth range 12m to 40m+,
suitable for all divers. Top^
 Dead
mans gultch. This site is located at the same place as
The Abyss but is directed in through the reef passage. Fairly
specific conditions are required for this site and it is one of
the most advanced dives on the island. Swimming through a cavern
and steep canyons brings you inside the reef where a deep (25m)
bowl is home to many predatory animals feeding in the current.
Often seen are White Tip Reef sharks, Gray Reef sharks, Eagle
rays, turtles, Giant Trevally, schools of lesser trevally and
other reef fish. To see these creatures a moderate current must
be present making the dive quite challenging. Depth
range 10m to 35m, suitable for advanced divers.
Top^
Papua
passage. A wonderful second dive and a must do for south
side diving. Papua passage is a pretty and easy dive with depths
no greater than 17m and a good chance of seeing Eagle rays and
turtles. Difficulty can be increased by swimming further up into
the passage for a drift dive on the way back out but equally as
interesting, this dive is great for a look around and easy dive.
Depth range 12m to 17m, suitable for
all divers and courses. Top^
 Rutaki
drops. Rutaki passage leads out to a nice sand channel
that extends out over the drop off. This dive is similar to The
Abyss but is more easily dived due to less surface current in
swelly conditions. A scenic dive with an opportunity to swim out
into the blue. Often a school of barracuda is seen, with turtles
and white tip reef sharks also common. Depth
range 15m to 40m+, suitable for all divers except beginners.
Top^
Rutaki
passage. This passage can be dived as a drift starting
inside the reef or from the outside and swimming back into the
bowl. Some nice canyons and caverns the large schools of snapper.
Vertical walls meet a white sand bottom at about 18m. Depth
range 10m to 20m, suitable for all divers.
Top^
Rarotongan.
The point off the Rarotongan forms a convergence of currents from
two sides of the island. Variable diving but can be an exciting
place to see pelagic fish and sharks. Depth
range 15m to 30m, suitable for advanced divers.
Top^
The
Pinnacle. The southern half of the west coast is characterized
by a moderately flat and sloping reef out to the drop off at 25
- 30m. The pinnacle is a coral bommie feature situated on the
drop off making it the most significant feature on this coast.
A current is often present. Depth range
12m to 30m, suitable for advanced divers.
Top^
Arorangi
drops. Situated in the centre of the western coast is the
Arorangi pass, a small pass emptying the lagoon that is not navigable
by boat. Some interesting terrain exists around this area with
some good sized Porites bommies scattered about. Schooling
eagle rays have been spotted here. A nice spot to begin a drift
dive. Depth range 15m to 30m, suitable
for all divers. Top^
The
plateau. A flat feature located at 28m, this large plateau
extends out to a sloping a drop off. A good site for a deep dive
however the coral is degraded at this site leaving the physical
attributes of the site the more impressive. Depth
range 15m to 30m+, suitable for advanced divers.
Top^
 Sunset
reef and swim through's. Located on the North West coast
the pleasant dive site offers a great deal of experiences on a
single dive. Nice coral terrain surrounds a shallow (5m) out crop
that has a warren of swim though's on its southern side. A good
second dive to accompany any of the other western sites, this
dive is enjoyed by all. Depth range 5m
to 25m, suitable for all divers. Top^
Maritime
Reefer wreck. One of three wrecks, this fishing boat was
sunk some time ago and lies well broken up in about 25m of water.
The stern, rudder and propeller are still visible but the bow
section is less recognizable. Home to Lion Fish and Giant moray,
this site is pretty nice for photographers. The occasional shark
is seen cruising the area. Depth range
14m to 30m, suitable for all divers.
Top^
 Nikau
tunnels. This shallow site is an interesting exploration
up into some wide caverns in the reef. This site is suitable for
novice divers or dives exploring caverns and canyons for the first
time. There are some optional tight swim through's but this is
generally an easy, safe site. Depth range
8m to 15m, suitable for beginners. Top^
Eds
mistake. This site, also known as the graveyard, is often
dived by western dive companies only diving the North or West.
It is characterized by small coral boulders turning to rubble
at the drop off. Usually used when we are restricted due to weather
and previous sites dived. Depth range
15m to 30m, suitable for occasional dives.
Top^
Tangaroas
rocks. This site has large coral formations rising up to
8 metres off the bottom. Plenty of small caverns and swim through's
make this an interesting site for the adventure while the varied
terrain and fish life is just as interesting for the spectator
diver cruising along. Often turtles are seen up close and the
occasional reef shark can cruise past. Depth
range 12m to 30m, suitable for all divers.
Top^
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