Pinnacles - Rarotonga
Servemar X is a fantastic wreck, probably our favourite of the three tugboats sunk in the area. Dropped in 2002, it sits bolt upright, looking like it’s just forgotten to turn off its engines and steam away. We usually hit it between 20 and 25 metres, and while currents can pick up a bit, they tend to bring in the action. The wreck itself is incredibly intact. We love finning along the deck, peeking into the wheelhouse, and imagining the crew. Schools of glassy sweepers often pulse in and out of the darker openings, a shimmering curtain you can almost swim through. On the deck, we’ve spotted Pacific spotted scorpionfish hunkered down, blending perfectly with the encrusted metal. Look for southern Atlantic sharpnose-puffers bobbing around the superstructure. It’s not uncommon to see a remora gliding by, sometimes even a curious shark or a couple of turtles patrolling the perimeter. This site is great for anyone who appreciates a well-preserved wreck teeming with the life it now supports.
- Location
- Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -21.256500, -159.824100
- Type
- wreck
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
- Aroa Rā’ui (reef)
- Arorangi Drop Off (reef)
- Arorangi Drop Off (wall)
- Arorangi Passage (reef)
- Arorangi Passage (reef)
- Avaavaroa Drop Off (reef)
- Avaavaroa Drop Off (reef)
- Avaavaroa Passage - 12-35m (reef)
- Avaavaroa Passage (reef)
- Avaavaroa Passage (reef)
- Avana Passage (drift)
- Avana Passage (wall)
- Avarua Passage (reef)
- Avarua Passage (reef)
- Avatiu Drop Off (wall)
Nearest Dive Centres to Pinnacles
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 Pinnacles
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