Cook Islands

Seasonal visitors to the remote northern atolls such as Palmerston and Suwarrow from August to October, often heard singing underwater.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Graceful rays seen at outer-reef cleaning stations and in current-rich passages, most likely in the dry season.

Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi)

The most common reef shark, patrolling walls and passages across Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the remote atolls.

Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

Regularly seen foraging on lagoon reefs and resting on shallow coral gardens such as Honeymoon Island.

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

The Cook Islands are a scattered South Pacific paradise of 15 islands, offering an extraordinary range of diving from the accessible walls and wrecks of Rarotonga to the postcard-perfect lagoon of Aitutaki and the utterly remote atolls of the northern group. Rarotonga’s fringing reef delivers dramatic drop-offs such as Wigmore’s Wall, the unique flowing sand of the Avaavaroa Passage, and accessible wrecks like the MV Mataora, while Aitutaki’s lagoon pinnacles and outer-reef walls are among the most beautiful in the Pacific. Beyond the main islands, Atiu, Mangaia, Palmerston, Penrhyn, Suwarrow and the pearl atolls of Manihiki and Rakahanga offer pristine, barely touched reefs reached only by liveaboard or private yacht. Warm, clear water, healthy coral and abundant marine life, from mantas and humpback whales to schooling pelagics and dense shark populations, make the Cook Islands a world-class yet uncrowded diving destination with something for every level of diver.

Liveaboards and private yachts are the only way to reach the remote northern atolls of Penrhyn, Suwarrow and Palmerston, and they offer access to pristine walls, passes and lagoons unreachable from land. Expedition vessels run multi-day northern-group trips, while private sailboats cruise between atolls. Rarotonga and Aitutaki are best dived from land-based resorts.

Muri Beach Club Hotel

Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort

Pacific Resort Rarotonga

Nautilus Resort

Aitutaki is home to one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, and its diving matches the famous postcard views. Inside the lagoon, The Pinnacles rise as d...

Aitutaki

Atiu is a raised volcanic island south of Rarotonga, known for its makatea (raised coral limestone) cliffs and a relaxed, traditional way of life. Underwater, t...

Atiu

Mangaia is the southernmost and one of the oldest raised atolls in the Pacific, a makatea island of dramatic limestone cliffs and ancient forts. Underwater, the...

Mangaia

Manihiki and Rakahanga are two remote northern atolls famous as the black pearl capital of the Cook Islands. Manihiki’s lagoon is lined with pearl farms, and di...

Manihiki & Rakahanga

Palmerston Atoll is one of the most remote and pristine places in the Cook Islands, a tiny ring of islets surrounding a turquoise lagoon far to the west. Reache...

Palmerston Atoll

Penrhyn, also known as Tongareva, is the largest and northernmost atoll in the Cook Islands, a vast ring of reef and islets surrounding a huge lagoon near the e...

Penrhyn (Tongareva)

Rarotonga North & West covers the less-dived but equally rewarding side of the island, where the outer reef falls away into deep water and cultural sites meet t...

Rarotonga (North & West)

Rarotonga South is the heart of Cook Islands diving, where the fringing reef meets the open Pacific through a series of dramatic passages and drop-offs. The sou...

Rarotonga (South)

Suwarrow is an uninhabited atoll and national park in the northern Cook Islands, a completely untouched ring of reef and lagoon reached only by private sailboat...

Suwarrow Atoll

Adventure Reef

Adventure Reef is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a sloping coral reef with anemonefish, giant clams, moray eels and whitetip reef s...

Drop-Off (Aitutaki Outer Reef)

Drop-Off (Aitutaki Outer Reef) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, a steep wall on the southern outer reef with grey reef sharks, dogtooth tun...

The Pinnacles (Aitutaki)

The Pinnacles (Aitutaki) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, dramatic coral columns rising from the lagoon floor to 5 to 15 m, with abundant s...

Aorangi Wreck

Aorangi Wreck is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a 45 m cargo ship scuttled as an artificial reef in 15 to 25 m of water, with penet...

The Aquarium (Aitutaki)

The Aquarium (Aitutaki) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, a calm, shallow lagoon dive perfect for training and night dives, with octopus, pa...

Atiu Lagoon

Atiu Lagoon is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Atiu, shallow patch reefs with macro life, good for exploration and shore dives, with limited dive infra...

Atiu Outer Reef

Atiu Outer Reef is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Atiu, steep drop-offs with black coral and sea fans, grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna and possibly ma...

Avana Passage

Avana Passage is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a drift dive through the channel with schools of jacks, tuna, trevally and barracud...

Black Rock (Tuoro)

Black Rock (Tuoro) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (North & West), a culturally significant site with coral ledges and caves, turtles, mor...

Blake's Wall

Blake's Wall is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (North & West), a steep wall similar to the southern sites, with large groupers, whitetip ree...

The Boiler Wreck (SS Maitai)

The Boiler Wreck (SS Maitai) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), the 1916 wreck of the SS Maitai in shallow water of 3 to 8 m, with s...

The Caves (Aitutaki)

The Caves (Aitutaki) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, underwater caverns and overhangs in the outer reef, with glassfish, flashlight fish,...

Edmund's Reef

Edmund's Reef is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (North & West), a shallow coral garden with sea anemones, clownfish and pipefish, good for t...

Honeymoon Island (Maina)

Honeymoon Island (Maina) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, a shallow lagoon coral garden excellent for snorkelling and beginner dives, with...

Kaikoura Gardens

Kaikoura Gardens is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), vibrant coral bommies with surgeonfish, bannerfish, nudibranchs and great macro...

Mangaia Caves

Mangaia Caves is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Mangaia, a freshwater-saltwater interface in limestone caverns, with a unique halocline dive, stalacti...

Mangaia Wall

Mangaia Wall is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Mangaia, one of the oldest raised atolls in the Pacific, with steep underwater cliffs, gorgonians, pela...

Manihiki Atoll

Manihiki Atoll is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Manihiki & Rakahanga, home to black pearl farms, with dives among the pearl lines and oyster beds, co...

Matai Wreck

Matai Wreck is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, a 30 m freighter scuttled as an artificial reef off the Ootu Peninsula in 15 to 22 m, home to...

Mataora Wreck (MV Mataora)

Mataora Wreck (MV Mataora) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a 40 m inter-island freighter scuttled in 1990, resting upright at 18...

Moturakau Wall

Moturakau Wall is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, an outer-reef slope with soft corals, sea fans, schooling jacks, barracuda and reef sharks....

Ngatangiia Swamp Passage

Ngatangiia Swamp Passage is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a calm lagoon exit that is good for training, with stingrays, cuttlefish...

Palmerston Lagoon & Outer Reef

Palmerston Lagoon & Outer Reef is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Palmerston Atoll, extremely remote, pristine coral with huge schools of parrotfish an...

Palmerston Passes

Palmerston Passes is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Palmerston Atoll, drift dives through the lagoon passes with huge schools of barracuda and jacks a...

Papa's Drop-Off

Papa's Drop-Off is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (North & West), a gentle wall with sea fans, gorgonians, parrotfish and angelfish, and the...

Papua Passage (Rapae)

Papua Passage (Rapae) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Aitutaki, a current-swept channel drift dive with grey reef sharks, eagle rays, large schools...

Paradise Tikioki

Paradise Tikioki is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a shallow coral garden ideal for beginners and night dives, with stingrays, octo...

Penrhyn Lagoon & Passes

Penrhyn Lagoon & Passes is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Penrhyn (Tongareva), one of the largest atolls in the Cook Islands, with pristine outer reef...

Rakahanga Atoll

Rakahanga Atoll is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Manihiki & Rakahanga, a remote, clear lagoon with pristine fringing reefs, abundant fish and complet...

The Pinnacles (North Rarotonga)

The Pinnacles (North Rarotonga) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (North & West), large submerged rock formations with schooling barracuda,...

Sand River (Avaavaroa Passage)

Sand River (Avaavaroa Passage) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a unique geological formation where white sand flows like a river...

Suwarrow National Park

Suwarrow National Park is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Suwarrow Atoll, an uninhabited, pristine atoll with dense coral gardens, sharks (grey reef, b...

Drop-Off (Wigmore's Wall)

Drop-Off (Wigmore's Wall) is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Rarotonga (South), a sheer wall beginning at 8 m and plunging into deep water, decorated w...

Internal transport centres on Rarotonga, reached by international flight, with Air Rarotonga providing domestic flights to Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manihiki and other islands. Inter-island cargo boats and private yachts link the outer atolls, and expedition liveaboards cover the remote northern group. On Rarotonga, rental cars, scooters, buses and taxis are available.

Scuba Diving Sites in Cook Islands

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