Avarua Passage - Rarotonga

Avarua Passage is a real sleeper, often overlooked for the flashier outer reef sites, but we’re always keen to get in here. Dropping down from Edna’s Anchor, you follow the reef edge along a sandy channel, often feeling a gentle push towards the harbour. The coral formations here, particularly the large branching acropora, create countless hideouts. We’ve had some cracking encounters with robust scorpionfish tucked into crevices and watched moray eels peeking out from under plate corals. Our favourite time to dive Avarua Passage is early morning. That’s when you’ll often catch the Marbled Parrotfish in their mating rituals, a swirling, bumping ballet of blues and greens against the sand. Look closely for the smaller stuff too: we’ve spotted dew-drop cowries clinging to their hosts and the tiny Midget Chromis darting among the coral branches. Visibility usually holds around 25-30m, giving you a clear view of the sandy bottom where you might spot a flounder or even a sleeping Humphead Wrasse. This site is a calm, easy dive, perfect for photographers wanting to take their time with macro subjects or anyone who appreciates the subtle beauty of a healthy inner reef.

Location: Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates: -21.203000, -159.774300
Type: reef

Best Time to Dive in Rarotonga

The warmest water temperatures in Rarotonga occur in January, averaging 26.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.5°C (air: 24.8°C)
February: 26.5°C (air: 25.2°C)
March: 26.5°C (air: 25.5°C)
April: 26.5°C (air: 25.0°C)
May: 26.5°C (air: 24.2°C)
June: 26.5°C (air: 22.8°C)
July: 26.5°C (air: 22.3°C)
August: 26.5°C (air: 21.7°C)
September: 26.5°C (air: 22.0°C)
October: 26.5°C (air: 22.1°C)
November: 26.5°C (air: 22.6°C)
December: 26.5°C (air: 24.0°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Rarotonga

Nearest Dive Centres to Avarua Passage

Marine Life in Rarotonga

Home to 143 recorded species including 102 reef fish, 14 hard corals, 10 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 sea cucumbers, 2 sea urchins, 2 starfish.

Notable Species

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
Surf Redfish (Actinopyga mauritiana) - Sea Cucumbers
Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
Gendarme Fish (Acanthurus olivaceus) - Reef Fish
Prickly Redfish (Thelenota ananas) - Sea Cucumbers
Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma lutescens) - Reef Fish
Sponsal Cone (Conus sponsalis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
Bottleneck Sea Cucumber (Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens) - Sea Cucumbers
Frigid Cone (Conus frigidus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Pearl-spotted wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Avarua Passage

Based on average water temperature of 26.5°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories