Situated in the warm waters of the South Pacific, the Cook Islands are the stuff that tropical dreams are made of. Many activities can be enjoyed here, but it most certainly caters to ocean lovers. The 15 landmasses of the Cook Islands are comprised of volcanic atolls, which are spread over nearly 900,000 square miles. The weather is temperate to tropical, and visibility ranges from 60 feet to up to 200 feet! Humpback whales can be spotted here from July through October as they migrate from the Antarctic, and underwater photographers will delight in the abundance of reef life that is virtually untouched by the ravages of overfishing. All kinds of dives can be found within these islands, including caves, coral gardens, walls, wrecks, and drop-offs. Check out this video that demonstrates the colorful array of marine life in the crystal clear waters of the Cook Islands.
Image via robertpaulyoung
I have been to the Cook Islands, went to Rarotonga and Mangaia on my honeymoon. I only snorkeled on Rarotonga (I wasn’t a diver yet) but I do plan on going back there at some point to do some diving. I do remember there being quite the diversity of moray eels there, I saw loads of them in the shallows.
I have been three times, dove the pass at Rarotonga twice and the last trip this year did the pass a Fakarva, that was incredible
Been to Rarotonga but was also not a diver yet. Really enjoyed all the snorkeling while some of the group was diving. Eagle rays and such. As a snorkeler could see the bottom in 80 feet of water. Amazingly clear.
The Cook Islands are amazing! I stayed on the atoll of Manihi. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Diving inside the atoll offered the opportunity to see amazing life including some sharks and manta rays. The visibility was easily 100′.