Best places for snorkeling in Rarotonga, Cook Islands- Bonus tips
If you’ve heard anything about Rarotonga, Cook Islands, then you’ve probably heard how clear and amazing the lagoon is, and how incredible the underwater world is! So without a doubt, snorkeling in Rarotonga should be on the top list of things to do in Rarotonga! Can’t think of an easier way to explore the underwater world in Rarotonga than snorkeling!
Swimmer or not, you’ll be able to enjoy snorkeling in Rarotonga. Where the lagoon is so blue and shallow, there is no need to go out far to see some amazing school of fish or colorful coral life. And if it’s your lucky 8day, you might encounter a turtle if you swim out a bit farther 🙂
I’m not a strong swimmer, nor confident in the water. But I still enjoyed snorkeling in Rarotonga very much! I even got to explore a good amount of the underwater world. The lagoon is quite calm most of the time, and the water is very clear. I think it’s a perfect place for beginners to discover the fun of snorkeling 🙂
To enjoy the most out of snorkeling in Rarotonga, there are a few things to know for your safety. After all, safety always comes first!
- Never swim over the sharp reef edge into the open ocean.
- Watch out for the passages between each lagoon, they have a strong current that could pull you out to the open ocean.
- Wear reef shoes or flippers, and don’t walk or stand on the reef. (You can potentially hurt yourself and damage/kill the corals when you step on them.)
- Always snorkel with someone else if possible.
- Don’t stand, walk or touch coral or any other creatures.
- Wear sunscreen regardless of the weather, ocean-friendly sunscreen to protect marine life.
- Know your limit, the farther you swim the farther it is you’ll have to swim back (It is common sense people often forget when they’re enjoying too much snorkeling.
You might occasionally find some dogs snorkeling with you, don’t freak out haha 🙂 It is perfectly normal, it just shows that snorkeling is indeed a popular activity in Rarotonga!
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Best beaches for snorkeling in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Snorkeling at Aroa Beach (Aroa Marine Reserve)
This is my favorite place for snorkeling in Rarotonga and the place I’ve spent most of my time during my trip! It is a marine reserve, meaning no fishing activity, or any removal of underwater creatures is allowed; with an abundance of creatures makes it a perfect place to explore the underwater creatures!
Not far from the shore you’ll see some school of fishes, and some colorful coral life. And if you swim further out, you might encounter some turtles (I didn’t get to 🙁 which is one of the biggest reasons for me to go back to Rarotonga). The water is so clear you can see fish swimming around you without going down into the water at all!
It is located directly in front of The Rarotongan Resort, with public, and easy access. Captain Andy’s Bar and Grill is located right on the beach for you to grab a bite, or drinks when you’re tired! And toilet facilities in The Rarotongan Resort are nearby whenever you need them! The convenience of Aroa beach is a big reason why I love snorkeling here, as it’s a big hassle trying to find a toilet when you’re finished snorkeling and all wet.
If you’re not sure where to explore, or which direction to snorkel to. Feel free to ask the activityy hut or the reception of the resort. I’m sure they’ll be happy to direct you to the right area depending on your comfort level and what you want to see!
You can rent snorkel gears from Adventure Cook Islands, which is across the road from the Aroa beach. Or check with your accommodation, a lot of them would have free snorkel gear for you to use if needed!
Snorkeling in Tikioki Beach (Marine Reserve) – Opposite Fruit of Rarotonga
If you ask anyone about snorkeling in Rarotonga, most people will probably tell you about this. And many will agree it’s one of their favorite places for snorkeling in Rarotonga, and they are not wrong 🙂 This is also the Marine reserve that Captain Tama’s cruise brought us for snorkeling, and we’ve seen the most underwater creatures out here! (It could be the captains were feeding the fish while we snorkel).
But we came out here by ourselves one day, and didn’t have to swim far to start seeing butterfly fish, trevally, and some colorful corals! And if you swim out further you’ll see all kinds of fish, which I am not an expert on; they are all very colorful and are not shy swimming right next to you!
You will find the best snorkeling spot for this Marine Reserve right opposite the Fruits of Rarotonga. If you go earlier in the morning, you’ll get the whole place to yourself; but once it’s midday/afternoon there will be lots of people there with you 🙂 There is parking right next to the snorkeling spot if you drive, otherwise let the bus driver know to drop you off at Fruits of Rarotonga (The shop is currently closed).
The reason this wasn’t my favorite snorkeling spot in Rarotonga, is due to the location, and Fruits of Rarotonga was closed. There’s one public toilet near the spot, but it was incredibly dirty 🙁 Nevertheless, it’s still an amazing spot for snorkeling. And the famous “Charlie’s Cafe” is only around 10 minutes walk, so drop by to re-energized from all the snorkeling 🙂
We brought our own snorkel gear, but don’t worry if you don’t own one! You can rent snorkel gear from Chantal’s Concierge, which is direct across the street from the snorkeling spot! They have masks, fins, and reef shoes for rent; you can rent for hours or days depending on how long you’re planning to snorkel 🙂
Snorkeling at Black Rock
One of the best things to do in Rarotonga is to watch the sunset from Black Rock, or climb the rock itself! And it is also a popular snorkeling spot in Rarotonga for many people 🙂 The beach is beautiful for pictures, and the Black Rock makes this beach even more unique compared to other beaches in Rarotonga!
Snorkeling here was alright for me, it was a bit windy so the lagoon was quite choppy. I was feeling dizzy after snorkeling there for a bit. And the water was a bit murky as well, so overall it wasn’t the most pleasant experience. But I did see quite a variety of fishes here without swimming too much 🙂
I heard people really love this snorkeling spot in Rarotonga, and some didn’t enjoy it as much. So I would say it is the weather, a wind-dependent spot for snorkeling in Rarotonga! It is still very worth the visit, walking along the beach, climbing on the black rock, or snapping some incredible sunset photos!
There is parking right next to the beach entrance, however, it does fill out quickly, especially during the sunset. It is walkable from some of the popular accommodations on the west side of Rarotonga, like Edgewater Resort, Crown Beach & Spa, and so on! There’s no snorkel gear rental shop on the beach, so try your accommodation and see if they provide free gear!
Snorkeling at Muri Beach
Muri Beach is more known for water activities like kayaking, SUP, etc. It is less popular as a snorkeling spot in Rarotonga compared to the ones I’ve mentioned above. I snorkeled here once when I stayed near this area, and yeah it’s not as amazing as the others, you do get to see some fishes swimming around, but the coral life is not as good!
There are three little motus (islands) nearby Muri Beach. It is swimmable, or you can kayak there, and snorkel around the motus 🙂
Best tours for snorkeling in Rarotonga
Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise
Set off from Muri Beach, Captain Tama’s cruise will take you to the Tikioki Marine Reserve, and there you will have the chance to jump off the glass bottom boat and enjoy some snorkeling time! You will be surrounded by beautiful colored fishes while the captains feed them!
And a big fish BBQ lunch will be provided on another small island near Muri Beach! It’s a day filled with fun, music, and snorkeling 🙂
Snorkeling and swimming with turtles
If your goal is to spot a turtle, your best chance would be to go on a tour as they’d know where to go. And most of the time it means going out farther than normally you would snorkeling by yourselves!
It is truly a magical experience swimming with turtles, and getting to know their habitat! Pictures with turtles could become your coolest picture of the year, and share them with your friends or family 🙂
For your safety, a certain level of swimming skill is required, and most importantly you have to be comfortable with deeper water to join those tours!
Aitutaki Day tour
Aitutaki Day tour is one of the must-do things in Rarotonga, best for people who don’t have enough time or budget to stay overnight on Aitutaki, but still want to explore this beautiful island, known as “The world’s most beautiful lagoon”.
On this tour, you’d have plenty of chances to snorkel. They provide all the snorkel gear and towels, so you can travel light 🙂 It’s possible to spot some turtles here, but I wasn’t lucky enough to see any. Lunch is also provided on board and some snacks throughout the day!
If you’re lucky enough to stay for more than one day, here is a full guide for visiting Aitutaki 🙂
What to pack for snorkeling in Rarotonga
- Mask and Snorkel
- Flippers or reef shoes
Flippers help you easily snorkel around and explore the lagoon, especially on a windier day. However, if you find flippers too annoying, wear reef shoes instead. The goal is to prevent any reef cut, as it can ruin your holiday if the cut is serious.
- Swimwear
- Underwater Cameras
You would definitely want to capture the amazing underwater world, and share it with the people on land! GoPro is a good choice, very clear and easy to operate underwater, it is straightforward and affordable for people new to underwater photography 🙂
- Waterproof Phone Pouch
100% recommended so you can bring your phone underwater and take pictures, and keep anything valuable in the pouch while you snorkel around. It is a bit hard to operate your phone underwater, as due to the water pressure you won’t be able to press anything on the screen.
You’d have to set your phone to camera mode before going down to the water, and just press the camera shutter button of your phone to take photos!
- Towels
- Wetsuit (Optional)
All the snorkeling spots in Rarotonga are relatively warm, so a wetsuit is not really necessary for snorkeling. But if you feel more comfortable wearing one, then go ahead!
- Buoyancy Aids (Optional)
If you’re not confident in the water, taking along a buoyancy aid will make your snorkeling trip a lot more easing, pleasant and fun. Nothing is more important than safety 🙂
- Mask defogger (Optional)
To make sure you can see clearly, and enjoy the most out of your snorkeling trip! Make sure you’re using one that’s ocean-friendly!
- Ocean-friendly sunscreen
A must regardless of the weather, even if it’s an overcast day. Sunscreen will prevent you from getting burnt, especially when you’re snorkeling most of the time your back would be directly exposed to the sun! And check if your sunscreen is ocean-friendly to protect you and the ocean 🙂
- Hair tie
If you have long hair, it is highly recommended to tie it up. To prevent your hair from getting in the way of your mask causing water to leak through. And your hair won’t get in the way of your view!
Check out here for what to pack for your Rarotonga trip
Where to stay for the best snorkeling experience in Rarotonga
This is hands down the best place to stay for snorkeling. It is located right on the best snorkeling spot in Rarotonga “Aroa Marine Reserve”. The rooms are a bit outdated, but the location is hard to beat! They have free snorkel gear, kayaks to hire, and daily activities for both kids and adults!
The onsite restaurant right next to the beach makes it an even more ideal location!
If you’re looking for the convenience of location, this is definitely the resort you should book with 🙂
Sanctuary Resort (Adult only)
This is the sister property of The Rarotongan resort, you can enjoy the full facilities and activities of both resorts! Good for people who want to get away from kiddos for a bit, but still want to enjoy the big resort activities!
For the best snorkeling experience, accommodations around Aroa are definitely the best location. Or stay near Titikaveka, which is another marine reserve with a good snorkeling spot!
Tips on choosing the right accommodation for snorkeling in Rarotonga
Rarotonga, Cook Islands is a small island, but choosing the right area will still save you a lot of time trying to wait for the bus, walk, etc. Especially after you snorkel, you’d be all wet and probably just want to get washed up. It’ll be quite a hassle to have to walk, and bus back to your accommodation.
The location should be the first thing you look at, find out which snorkeling spot is most attractive to you and start looking around there. Book ahead or check out for special deals to spend less! Second of all, if you’re not planning to bring snorkel gear; check if the accommodation has free snorkel gear for hire. It will save you some trouble and money to rent it somewhere else!
↓↓Search accommodation near Aroa beach or Tikioki Beach below ↓↓
Near 2 of the best snorkeling spots. Aroa Marine Reserve and Tikiko Marine Reserve
Booking.com Booking.comA few nights at a beachfront resort and a few nights staying inland is a good way to balance your budget! And to experience different parts of Rarotonga, figure out which area you like best so you know where to book the next time you’re back 🙂
Booking.comHopefully, this helps you plan your snorkeling in Rarotonga easier, and comment below to let me know where’s your favorite spot to Snorkel in Rarotonga 🙂
