The Best Scuba Diving in Rarotonga: Top 25 Places to Scuba Dive

Last Updated: 9 June, 2025

The Top Dive Sites in Rarotonga

Get your weight belt on because there are a whole lot of dive sites to explore around Rarotonga! From relaxing coral bommies to epic wreck dives to dramatic drop-offs into the deep, there is plenty of variety to be had.

Needless to say, one dive is never enough, so take a look at the sort of underwater expeditions you could be venturing on this list of the best places to dive in Rarotonga!

Note that we have mainly included northern and western dive sites because the southeasterly prevailing wind often makes the south and east coasts unsuitable for diving, and we don’t want to raise your expectations too high, now.

Who to Dive With in Rarotonga

Rarotonga has three very competent scuba diving operations and dive shops that can take you to any of the following dive sites with speed, thanks to the multiple boat launch points around Rarotonga. It rarely takes more than 15 minutes to get to a dive site! See who to dive with using the 5 Best Dive Shops & Operators in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

1. Edna’s Anchor

See a perfectly preserved anchor on the seabed in front of Trader Jack’s—not from the nearby Maitai Shipwreck as one might expect, nor from the schooner Edna which later sank in Atiu, but from a much older shipwreck. The dive site is named after the Edna in honor of its historical connection to the area.

See the huge anchor between two coral bommies along with all sorts of colourful reef fish. The dive follows a sandy slope lined with coral running alongside. Most diver levels can enjoy the dive until it gets to the ultra-deep sandy drop-off that drops dramatically to 65 m (71.1 yards).

Depth: 12-40m (13.1-43.7 yards)
Coast: North coast

The Best Scuba Diving in Rarotonga: Top 25 Places to Scuba Dive

2. Goldmine

Although there’s no gold to be found here (Goldmine is named after the jewellery shop that the dive site sits across from in Avarua), you’ll still feel rich after an experience diving with turtles and alongside vibrant coral bommies.

Depth: 15-25m (16.4-27.3 yards)
Coast: North coast

3. Labyrinth (The Maze, Dave’s Cave and Blackrock Tunnels)

Known by many names, Labyrinth is a shallow dive site featuring a fascinating network of caverns, tunnels, and swim-throughs beneath the surf zone, stretching from the airport runway to Black Rock. Although the dive reaches only about 10 m (10.9 yards) in depth, it should only be attempted in relatively calm sea conditions for safety.

As you explore the labyrinthine passages, keep an eye out for lionfish, shellfish, and crayfish.

Depth: 10 m (10.9 yards)
Coast: West coast

4. MV Mataora Wreck

There are many exciting wreck dives in Rarotonga, with the MV Mataora Wreck arguably being one of the best. This cargo schooner was purposely sunk to create an artificial reef, so make the most of it by exploring the surrounding hard corals and investigating its bow and stern, that was originally part of a 45 m (49.2 yards)-long ship.

Depth: 10-25 m (10.9-27.3 yards)
Coast: North coast

5. Papua Passage

One of the easiest and best dives on the south side of Rarotonga, the Papua Passage offers an excellent chance of seeing eagle rays in large numbers, as well as turtles.

Depth: 12-17 m (13.1-18.6 yards)
Coast: South coast

6. Black Rock

Located right in front of the also popular snorkelling site, Black Rock features a series of reef plateaus rising from the sea bed. Dive among healthy coral bommies on this dive with interesting swim-throughs.

Depth: 12-28 m (13.1-30.6 yards)
Coast: West coast

7. Avaavaroa Drop-Off

One of the best of many drop-off dives on Rarotonga, the Avaavaroa Drop-Off is an impressive dive where you swim along a sand channel to the drop-off into the deep blue along with amazing sharks, eagle rays, schools of tuna, lionfish, parrotfish and much more!

Depth: 16-40m (17.5-43.7 yards)
Coast: South coast

8. Matavera Wall

Located on Rarotonga’s east coast, Matavera Wall is a fun and relatively easy drop-off dive, starting at around 12 m (13.1 yards) and descending to about 35 m (38.3 yards) before sloping off into the deep blue. Keep an eye out for moray eels, scorpionfish, turtles, and more.

While the East Coast has fewer dive sites compared to the North and South, it offers spectacular drop-offs and vibrant marine life. Conditions here can often be rough, but when the sea is calm, east coast dives are a favourite among experienced divers.

You can also pair this dive with nearby Matavera Point, which drops even further to around 40 m (43.7 yards).

Depth: 12-30m (13.1-32.8 yards)
Coast: East coast

9. Maritime Reefer Wreck

Another wreck purposely sunk to create an interesting dive site and artificial reef, the FV Maritime Reefer is scattered all over the place due to storm damage, but you can still make out the stern, rudder and propeller. All the usual marine suspects are here to see, including lionfish, moray eel and the occasional shark.

Depth: 8-12 m (8.7-13.1 yards)
Coast: West coast

10. Sunset Reef and Lava Tubes

A dive site in Rarotonga enjoyed by all, Sunset Reef or Sunset Lava Tubes is a large coral shelf sitting 5 m (5.5 yards) to 18 m (19.7 yards) below the surface. There are lava tunnels and swim-throughs to explore where you’ll find nudibranchs, lionfish, scorpionfish, anemones and cowrie shells.

Depth: 5-25 m (5.5-27.3 yards)
Coast: West coast

15 More Dive Sites and Places to Dive in Rarotonga

Now that we have gone through our top picks for epic dive sites in Rarotonga. The best of the rest include:

Ngatipa – North Coast, 10–28 m (10.9–30.6 yards)
Maitai Shipwreck – North Coast, 10 m (10.9 yards)
Avatiu Drop Off – North Coast, 12–40 m (13.1–43.7 yards)
Panama – North Coast, 15–22 m (16.4–24.1 yards)
Swiss Reef – North Coast, 12–20 m (13.1–21.9 yards)
Runway – West Coast, 18–26 m (19.7–28.4 yards)
Arorangi Passage – West Coast, 12 m (13.1 yards)
Arorangi Drop Off – West Coast, 20–30 m (21.9–32.8 yards)
Pinnacles – South Coast, 20–30 m (21.9–32.8 yards)
Rutaki Passage – South Coast, 20–29 m (21.9–31.7 yards)
Rutaki Drop-Off – South Coast, 20 m+ (21.9 yards+)
Papua Drop-Off – South Coast, 12–40 m (13.1–43.7 yards)
Queens Reef – South Coast, 18–25 m (19.7–27.3 yards)
Ngatangiia School – East Coast, 12–30 m (13.1–32.8 yards)
Tupapa Sand River – East Coast, 18–35 m (19.7–38.3 yards)

More About Scuba Diving in Rarotonga

Sounds like a sweet scuba diving trip, right? Now plan the rest of your scuba journey using the following guides:

Finally, plan all the logistics of your trip to Rarotonga using The Complete Travel Guide to Rarotonga and find more experiences using the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the 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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