Diving & Travel Guide to Rarotonga (South)

About Rarotonga (South)

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 southern coast offers the legendary Sand River at Avaavaroa Passage, where white sand flows like a river through the reef, and Wigmore’s Wall, a sheer drop beginning at just 8 metres and plunging into deep blue water draped in black coral and gorgonians. The MV Mataora and Aorangi wrecks provide accessible artificial reefs packed with marine life, while shallow sites such as Paradise Tikioki and Kaikoura Gardens are perfect for beginners and macro photographers. Avana Passage delivers thrilling drift dives with schooling jacks and tuna. With daily flights from New Zealand and a range of professional dive operators based around Muri and Tikioki, the south coast is the most accessible and diverse diving in the country.

Highlights

• ✓Sand River (Avaavaroa Passage): A unique formation where white sand flows like a river through the reef, with garden eels, eagle rays and whitetip reef sharks.
• ✓Wigmore’s Wall (Drop-Off): A sheer wall starting at 8 m and plunging into the deep, decorated with black coral, sea fans and grey reef sharks.
• ✓MV Mataora Wreck: A 40 m freighter resting upright at 18 to 30 m, encrusted with coral and home to batfish, lionfish and clouds of glassfish.
• ✓Paradise Tikioki: A shallow, sheltered coral garden ideal for beginners and one of the best night dives on the island.

Getting There

International flights arrive at Rarotonga International Airport at Avarua, the main gateway to the country. The southern dive sites are reached by short boat rides of 10 to 25 minutes from bases around Muri, Tikioki and Avarua. Several PADI and SSI dive centres operate daily trips, and shore diving is possible at a few sheltered sites. The ring road makes transfers between the airport and the southern dive bases quick and easy.