10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism
10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿

© David Kirkland – Cook Islands Tourism

The Top Snorkel Tours in the Cook Islands

Welcome to some of the best snorkelling grounds in the South Pacific. With lagoons sheltering swimmers and fish from the Pacific Ocean combined with ultra-clear water, the Cook Islands has excellent snorkelling from the shores. But if you want to get to the more “untouched” coral or the best snorkelling spots that only the locals know about, then you better take a snorkelling tour. Snorkelling tours in the Cook Islands provide all of the gear; all you need is some reef-safe sunscreen and some enthusiasm for cute and colourful fish!

So, check out this list of the best snorkelling tours in the Cook Islands and enhance your underwater experience! If you were, in fact, looking for turtle snorkelling tours, then take a look at the 10 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

1. Snorkel Cook Islands – Rarotonga

Get an exclusive snorkelling experience in Rarotonga with Snorkel Cook Islands! Their three-hour private tour includes transfers to their private beach and high-quality snorkelling gear. The team take you and up to two other people on a tour of healthy marine ecosystems where turtles and rays are a regular feature. Your guide will capture the key moments for you with their underwater camera then, when you’re ready, the snorkelling tour concludes with a banquet of island-style refreshments. Learn more about the tour and book tickets on Viator and Tripadvisor. Plus, check out more snorkelling tours from the same island in the 6 Best Snorkelling Tours in Rarotonga.

Location: Transfers are available from anywhere on Rarotonga. Find out how to get to Rarotonga (and around) in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

2. Ariki Adventures – Rarotonga

Take the effort out of constantly kicking your legs with a sea scooter snorkelling tour in Rarotonga. Ariki Adventures‘ snorkelling tours take you to some of the less-visited spots that are better to go with the safety of a guide, such as the Matai Shipwreck, as well as popular snorkelling spots to enhance the experience, such as the coral canyons of Tikioki! In the latter tour, the “Lagoon Discovery Tour“, you’ll be equipped with a wetsuit, snorkelling gear and a sea scooter, which you’ll learn how to use on land before the adventure begins. Then it’s off to the coral canyons with moray eels and bluefin trevally to feed. You’ll also get free time to explore the lagoon yourself. Find out more about the tour on Viator and Tripadvisor. Shipwreck tours are also available, as well as snorkelling tours with turtles, which are also outlined on Viator and Tripadvisor

Location: Tours depart from the Flying Turtle Cafe, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi, Rarotonga. Find out how to get to Rarotonga (and around) in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism

3. Kia Orana Cruise – Aitutaki

A cruise of the stunning Aitutaki Lagoon for the adventurous and for those who want to do a lot of snorkelling, Kia Orana Cruise is well worth considering. Join “Captain Fantastic” for an adventure on a small-group tour, stopping by shipwrecks and coral bommies hiding giant clams and giant trevally. You’ll also visit a whole bunch of islets, such as where they filmed “Shipwrecked” on Moturakau and the famed One Foot Island. You’ll then cross the lagoon to Honeymoon Island and other surrounding motu for lunch. See more snorkelling tours to compare with in the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in Aitutaki.

Location: Tours depart from Arutanga Harbour, Aitutaki. Find out how to get to Aitutaki (and around) in our Aitutaki Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© Sean Scott - Cook Islands Tourism

4. Teking Lagoon Cruises – Aitutaki

With a maximum of 10 passengers, Teking Lagoon Cruises is another small-group option in Aitutaki where snorkelling is at the heart of their “Snorkelling Safari Tour”. Visit four of the lagoon’s motu (islands) and three vibrant snorkelling spots where the focus on ecology and conservation allows you to get more out of the experience. Your experience also includes a refreshing island barbecue on Maina Island, as well as a visit to Honeymoon Island and the infamous One Foot Island and its sandbank. See more cruises with snorkelling listed in the 10 Best Lagoon Cruises on Aitutaki.

Location: Tours depart from Ootu Beach, Aitutaki with transfers included. Find out how to get to Aitutaki (and around) in our Aitutaki Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

5. KiteSUP – Rarotonga

Offering snorkelling tours for all abilities, KiteSUP has two spectacular snorkelling tours, as well as a turtle-swimming tour. Snorkel among the shallow waters of the lagoon with an experienced guide who can help gain confidence with your snorkelling technique while you see the likes of giant trevally, moray eels, giant clams and more. Alternatively, more confident swimmers can join the “Shipwreck Snorkel Tour” to see how the 100+-year-old SS Matai has become part of the reef, harbouring a vibrant ecosystem of coral and fish. The tour is a fantastic way to complement some of the other activities in the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga!

Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri, Rarotonga. Find out how to get to Rarotonga (and around) in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

6. Adventure Cook Islands – Rarotonga

Adventure Cook Islands takes you out where no other snorkelers go; beyond Rarotonga’s fringing reef. Their “Reef to See Snorkel Tour” takes six to seven snorkelers out on their boat to the outer reef where some of Rarotonga’s larger fish reside. See eagle rays, turtles and even friendly reef sharks at the two snorkelling sites this tour includes. The tour lasts approximately 2h30mins with boat rides only taking five to 15 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to explore in the water. What’s more, the snorkelling trip is one of the cheapest in Rarotonga!

Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Aroa Beach, Arorangi, Rarotonga. Find out how to get to Rarotonga (and around) in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism

7. Black Pearl Charters – Aitutaki

Perhaps more renowned on Aitutaki for their fishing chartersBlack Pearl Charters also offer fantastic private charters for snorkelling in the Aitutaki Lagoon. Their half-day snorkelling tour hits three exciting snorkelling locations, as well as stops by the islands of One Foot Island and Honeymoon Island. Enjoy morning tea as part of the experience, as well as guided snorkelling where you’ll be explained the different fish and corals seen. All in all, Black Pearl Charters offers one of the best personal snorkelling experiences on the lagoon.

Location: Tours depart from Ootu Beach, Aitutaki with transfers included. Find out how to get to Aitutaki (and around) in our Aitutaki Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism

8. Kutekute Tours & Transfers – Aitutaki

See the Aitutaki Lagoon in a whole different light on a private snorkelling tour with Kutekute Tours & Transfers. Departing in the late afternoon, their “Sunset Lagoon Cruise” takes you to a mix of exciting snorkelling spots with giant trevally, giant clams and/or the Purple Wall. They are also the only snorkelling tour on Aitutaki that offers a twilight snorkel. The tour also includes a stunningly presented beach picnic platter on the uninhabited Moturakau as you watch the sunset before returning to the mainland after dark.

Location: Tours depart from Ootu Beach, Aitutaki with transfers included. Find out how to get to Aitutaki (and around) in our Aitutaki Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

9. Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes – Rarotonga

Join the cheeky crew from Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes for a fun day out on the Muri Lagoon and Motu Koromiri. The half-day cruise includes around 45 minutes of snorkelling at the Tikioki Marine Reserve where you’ll be free to swim among the giant clams, angelfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish and much more. After snorkelling, the cruise on the glass-bottom boat crosses the Muri Lagoon to the uninhabited Motu Koromiri for a barbecue lunch combined with a hilarious coconut and sarong-tying show. Learn more about the cruise on Viator and Tripadvisor, as well as in the 10 Best Day Cruises in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Location: Tours depart from Muri Beach, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri, Rarotonga. Just look for the yellow boats! Find out how to get to Rarotonga (and around) in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

10. Snorkelling Tours in the Northern Group

The rest of the Cook Islands’ lagoons where the snorkelling is incredible are located in the Northern Group, all of which are more than 1,000km (600 miles) away from Rarotonga. While these Northern Group islands don’t have any “formal” snorkelling tours like the ones mentioned above, any accommodation host on the islands will be able to organise a boat trip to the unspoiled snorkelling spots, particularly in Pukapuka, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Penrhyn. Check out the 10 Best Things to Do in the Northern Cook Islands for more things to do and, you never know, you could be convinced to hit the best snorkelling spots in the Cook Islands that, incidentally, rarely anyone goes to. Note that snorkelling tours in the Northern Group don’t provide gear, so you’ll need to bring your own mask and fins.

Location: The Northern Group. Check out our Northern Cook Islands Transport Guide for ways to get there.

10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands 🤿© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

More About Snorkelling in the Cook Islands

That’s it for our complete list of the best snorkelling tours in the Cook Islands. Now discover more snorkelling adventures in the guides below:

Finally, add more items to your Cook Islands itinerary using the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as the Cook Islands. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Raro’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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