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Avana Passage

Avana Passage on Rarotonga’s east coast is one of our favourite easy dives. We love the feeling of drifting through the mouth of Ngatangiia Harbour, like exploring a sunken pathway. It’s mostly sand underfoot, but keep an eye out for Desjardin's Sailfin Tangs darting around the rocky edges. The highlight for us is always the rock formations just outside the passage; they really do feel like ancient ruins, carved by the ocean over millennia. We’ve spotted plenty of morays tucked into crevices here, and if you’re lucky, a Humphead wrasse might cruise past. For those who prefer a relaxed dive with consistent visibility, Avana Passage is a solid choice. You can drift gently in with the incoming tide, spotting butterflyfish and various wrasse species in the calmer waters. It’s a shallower dive, maxing out around 17 metres, making it perfect for a long bottom time and a gentle introduction to Rarotonga’s reef life.