The top 4 dive and snorkel sites in Cook Islands, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Cook Islands guide
The MV Mataora, previously a Tongan cargo vessel of 44m long, was purchased on the 11th Dec 1990 from Silk and Boyd for $1. She was sank a couple of days later just off the reef. A little while after sinking, the island was hit by a cyclone, breaking up the wreck and separating the bow and stern. She is now hosts by a large amount of lionfishs. Norts side of Rarotonga M.V. Mataora is also known as MV Mataora.
Lots of hard coral everywhere with small tropical fish and occasional large pelagics such as Giant Trevally. A very relaxing dive where a gentle surge lulls you as you hover over the coral. Visibility is awesome and the water was a nice 25deg C in November. The site is accessible from the harbour with a short boat ride, dive operators have positioned moorings which makes it easy for them to find.
Being located on the edge of the reef the dive will find reef fish among the coral with lager pelagics patrolling over the white sands waiting for the opportunity for a bite. Visibility is awesome and the water a comfortable 25 deg C in November. Alberto's is a short boat ride out from the old harbour and located along the edge of the reef. Dive operators have the site marked with morrings.
The site is aptly named the Mushroom Forest which is derived from the coral formations which look like mushrooms. Tropical fish dart in and out of the coral with a sizable blue trigger fish joining us during the dive. Water temp is 25 deg C in November. The site is accessed by a short boat ride from the harbour. Dive operators have marked the site with a morring.
Zentacle lists 2 dive shops in the Cook Islands. The top-rated are Dive Rarotonga (4.9 from 53 reviews) and Pacific Divers (4.8 from 24 reviews).
