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Tupapa Sandriver

Tupapa Sandriver is one of those Rarotongan dives that really delivers. We love the way this channel pulls you in, starting shallow and just flowing down to 24 metres, framed by coral on both sides. On the north, the wall drops sharply, a real contrast to the gentler slope on the south. You drift along, looking for Celebes longfin eels poking out of the sand, and we almost always spot pacific cornetfish just hanging in the current. The current here can be a decent push, which we think makes the drift even better. We've seen reef sharks cruise by us, especially when we nudge a little deeper. Keep an eye out for spotted hawkfish perched on the staghorn coral, and the flash of a blue-lined tang darting past. Visibility often hits 30 metres, which means you can really appreciate the scale of the channel. It's a superb site for divers who enjoy a good drift and want to see some healthy coral and larger reef predators.