reef sub tour rarotonga

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Raro reef sub marine life eco tours.

"Be captivated and charmed by the Cook Island's only semi-submersible"

The Raro Reef Sub Marine Life Eco Tour is the only one of its kind in the Cook Islands. Departs daily on a 1 hour 15 minute cruise from Avatiu Harbour, adjacent to Avarua, the main township.

The Reef Sub cruises along Rarotonga's northern coast over shipwrecks, including the RMS Maitai which sank in 1916.

See and photograph what lies beneath the deeper waters surrounding Rarotonga including giant trevally, spotted eagle rays, turtles, reef fish, coral and other sea life. You will also enjoy a wonderful view of the island of Rarotonga from the top deck.

Suitable for all ages. Free pick ups and drop offs available from your accommodation.

The cost for Adults is $65, children 15 years and under $35, under two years are free.

Raro Sub Marine Life Eco Tour departs - 9am, 11am, 2pm & 4pm daily (weather permitting).

Telephone: +682 55 903 Email: [email protected] Website: www.raroreefsub.com

Link to article: Raro sea change for former policewoman

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Raro Reef Sub

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RARO REEF SUB (Rarotonga) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Raro Reef Sub

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New york city, norfolk island, papa new guinea, solomon islands, guadalcanal, espiritu santo, raro reef sub, contact info.

• Phone: 55901
• Website: www.raroreefsub.com/
• Email: [email protected]

Description

Why is the Reef Sub experience so unique? Like many boat tours you are welcomed aboard, seated and entertained with stories and music as you leave the harbour ... then your experience becomes unique. The waters clear and you are invited to go down to the observation deck. What you see will amaze you. Giant trevally, turtles, sharks, puffer fish (and in season) whales are just some of the marine life we see regularly. "It's like diving, but you stay dry." The centuary old shipwreck of the RMS Maitai will take your breath away. The coral gardens will enchant you and the staff will go out of their way to ensure your tour is fun and memorable. Semi-Submersible Tours daily from Avatiu Harbor on the North side of Rarotonga just 5 mins from Town / Market 9am, 11am, 2pm and 4pm Cruises Duration Time: 1 hr 15 mins Advisable to book in advance but not always necessary, otherwise arrive 15 mins before departure time Booking essential on the 9 am and 4 pm, as these trips only occur at peak tourist times, or by special arrangement. Sea dependent condition.

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Punanga nui market, titikaveka beach, cross island trek.

Raro Reef Sub

The Raro Reef Sub offers a unique semi-submersible adventure in the Cook Islands. Departing from Avatiu Harbour in Rarotonga, this tour allows visitors to marvel at the stunning island views from the observation deck or descend into an underwater wonderland to explore the vibrant marine life and discover a century-old shipwreck. The tours, lasting between 1 and 1/2 hours, are suitable for all ages and take place from Sunday to Friday, offering multiple departure times throughout the day.

As the vessel is not a submarine, but a sturdy steel boat with slanting windows, visitors can choose to sit on deck or climb down a vertical ladder into the hull to view underwater. People with mobility issues may find descending the ladder challenging. While there are around 14 windows, only four have seats, so arriving early is recommended for a comfortable viewing experience. Crowded conditions may lead to a rotational system where visitors take turns downstairs, with the opportunity to experience the island scenery from the deck as the vessel returns to the harbor.

During the tour, guests can observe various marine creatures such as giant trevally, tropical fish, stingrays, turtles, eels, and even humpback whales during the whale season. While the coral may appear mostly dead or broken due to cyclones and crown of thorn starfish attacks, visitors can witness the remains of a shipwreck and coral-encrusted artifacts on the seabed, offering a unique insight into underwater history.

The Raro Reef Sub offers a safe and enjoyable experience for families, with ample handrails and sufficient seating. Additionally, charter options are available for groups of up to 16 people. It is advisable to book in advance, especially during peak tourist season, to secure a spot on the tour. Overall, the Raro Reef Sub provides a worthwhile experience, particularly for children, offering an informative and captivating look at the underwater world just beyond the enchanting Cook Islands reef.

This fantastic tour falls under the categories of Boat Tour and Tour, offering an exceptional opportunity for visitors to explore the captivating marine life and historical remnants while enjoying a leisurely cruise from Avatiu Harbour.

Raro Reef Sub amenities

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Raro Reef Sub

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Raro Reef Sub - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Raro Reef Sub

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Raro Reef Sub - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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7 Best Whale Watching (& Swimming) Tours in the Cook Islands 🐋

The top whale tours in the cook islands.

The “winter” season marks an exciting time in the Cook Islands when the Antarctic’s humpback whales migrate to its warm waters. That means there’s a lot of action beyond the lagoons of Rarotonga and Aitutaki where you have the privileged opportunity to get up close to these gentle giants. While the watersports and fishing tours of Rarotonga allow you to get a closer look at these magnificent marine mammals from their boats, tours on Aitutaki actually enable you to swim with the whales – a truly life-changing experience!

So, plan your whale excursion today with this list of the best whale watching and swimming tours in Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the Cook Islands.

Remember that whale tours are only available between July and October . Learn more about the whale season in The Best Time to See Whales in the Cook Islands .

1. Wet & Wild

That’s right, with Wet & Wild you don’t just watch the whales, you swim with them! Wet & Wild have been running whale watching and swimming tours in Aitutaki for more than 20 years so have a  wealth of experience approaching these magnificent creatures. Choose from either shared or private tours, with shared tours lasting around three hours and private around 2h30mins. Either way, you’ll be provided with snorkelling gear and bottled water. Transfers are available for an additional fee. Learn about more epic watersports on the island in 20 Best Things to Do on Aitutaki .

Location: Departs Arutanga Harbour, Aitutaki.

2. Raro Reef Sub

During the whale season, Raro Reef Sub offers a unique way to see whales in their natural habitat from a semi-submersible vessel! Cruise to the deep outer reef of Rarotonga and look out for large pelagic fish, turtles, sharks and, that’s right, humpback whales! The 1h25mins-1h30mins tour also takes you around the RMS Maitai shipwreck and to places that are otherwise a challenge to get to. If that wasn’t enough, a percentage of the trip goes toward local conservation! This is also a spectacular option with kids, as listed in the 40 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands with Kids .

Location: Tours depart from Avatiu Harbour, Avarua at the north side of Rarotonga.

3. Bubbles Below – Dive Aitutaki

Another exhilarating whale swimming tour in Aitutaki, the local dive operator, Bubbles Below , can take you out to see and swim with the humpbacks. Shared tours to cut the price and private charters exclusively for couples or your group are available, both including snorkelling gear, water and light refreshments. Tours last approximately two hours and transfers are available for an additional fee.

Location: Arutanga Harbour, Aitutaki.

4. Wahoo Fishing Charters

One of a few fishing charters on Rarotonga doubling up as a whale watching charter in the whale season, Wahoo Fishing Charters is a good go-to to see the whales. Join the cheeky crew for a fun half-day (4h30mins) on the water watching whales and enjoying a homecooked lunch included in the tour. There are two crew members on board all of their charters ensuring extra safety and extra fun. Charters are either shared or private.

Location: Avana Harbour, Ngatangiia (just north of Muri) or Avatiu Harbour, Avarua at the north end of Rarotonga.

5. Rongohiva

On board a comfortable speed boat with seats including backrests (?!), Rongohiva will take you out to see the whales between July and October. Swap their usual banana boat adventures for a trip to the deep blue where you can get up-close to humpback whales and, hopefully, see them breaching and diving! There’s very little shade on the boat, however, so make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat!

Location: Avatiu Harbour, Avarua, northern end of Rarotonga.

6. Sakula Charters

Sakula Charters might primarily operate fishing charters but their large 16m (53ft) fishing boat is the most comfortable in Rarotonga, making it the ideal vessel for a relaxing whale watching tour. Join them either for a shared or private whale watching experience or combine whale watching with the multi-day fishing experience, sleeping to the whale songs in the onboard cabins! Find out more about their fishing tours in the 10 Best Fishing Charters in the Cook Islands .

7. Akura Fishing Charters

Finally, the popular fishing operator on Rarotonga, Akura Fishing Charters , is also in on the humpback whale-watching action during the season. With multiple 12m (40ft) and 7.3m (24ft) boats on offer, they can charter the ideal whale watching tour for most group sizes. Whale watching tours include bottled water, sandwiches for lunch and a chilly bin for any drinks you want to bring on board.

More About Whale Tours in the Cook Islands

Now that you know where you can find whale watching and swimming tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, here are more ways to engage with these amazing marine mammals:

• 10 Best Places for Whale Watching in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
• Cook Islands Whale Season : The Best Time to See Whales in the Cook Islands
• Cook Islands Dolphin Season : The Best Time to See Dolphins in the Cook Islands

Finally, add more essentials to your Cook Islands bucket list drawing from the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List .

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 [2024])
• Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
• Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
• Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2024])
• Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2024])
• Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2024])

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

About the Author

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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A reef walk in Rarotonga with Ariimoana Reef Tours.

• By Sarah Steiner
• Updated On April 21, 2024

A reef walk in Rarotonga is incredible! You get the chance to be up close and personal with the marine life and experience the special marine environment within the reef, without having to snorkel or dive.  

Ariimoana has created a brilliant eco friendly low tide reef walk to discover the island culture and marine life from that different point of view.

And Rarotonga has a lot to offer!

For us, one of the greatest changes to come from our travels is the pleasure shared in experiences together. Since travelling, we have started new traditions so that at Christmas we gift each of the boys an ‘adventure’ instead of a tangible present…

And this year, we had an incredible time exploring the lagoon on a Reef Walk with Ariimoana ; Oscars Christmas gift adventure.

Read on to learn about the incredible life in the lagoon and make your plan to experience a reef walk in Rarotonga too. 

About Rarotonga’s reef

The island of Rarotonga is surrounded entirely by a lagoon. In parts, the lagoon extends more than a hundred metres to the reef before sloping steeply into deep water.

To the north of the island, the reef fronts the shore making the lagoon there unsuitable for swimming and exploring.

But to the South, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest, with parts on each of the south east and west coastline suitable for swimming, water sports and exploring. 

There are areas of Ra’ui around different parts of the lagoon and shoreline, marked with signs visible from the roadside.

• A Ra’ui is a section of the reef, lagoon and shoreline that has been sanctioned so that there is no fishing or collecting of kai moana (seafood).

The idea of this is to help the ecosystem to be sustainable and allow the herbivorous and carnivorous fish and marine life to get back into balance. 

A Reef Walk in Rarotonga with Ariimoana

The reef walk starts in Vaimaanga; a village on the south coast of Rarotonga.

This is a perfect spot to explore the extended reef and lagoon at low tide. Because here the lagoon stretches out almost half a kilometre to the edge of the reef before the drop off into deep water.

• Kura Happ is our host for the walk, and along with her partner Jacapo, they live and breathe life in the waters of Rarotonga.

Having grown up on the reef, Kura gives a real insight into how important the ocean is to the people of Rarotonga. And Kura’s passion for her reef and all the incredible life in it is contagious…

Learning about coral 

In a welcoming chat before we leave the beach, Kura explains carefully about the importance of coral and how to recognize coral in the lagoon.

Coral are fragile and can easily be killed or damaged. (Not to mention they can sometimes also be very sharp!). So, it is in your best interest to ensure you do not come into direct contact with them.

There are different types of coral in the lagoon but the main coral visible is a soft yellowy colour.

All of the corals are vital to the lagoon, so make sure to walk carefully and away from them.

Different creatures from the sea 

There is a myriad of sea creatures to discover on a reef walk, including: 

• Sea cucumbers
• Sea urchins
• Trochus shells 
• Edible sea grapes 

And much, much more! 

Learning the reo 

The language of the Cook Islands is central in expressing the things that make the country and culture unique.

And thus, experiencing the reef walk with Kura is a humbling opportunity to hear about and learn some of the reo for the life in the water:

• Etu moana:  Blue sea star
• Rori Puakatoro:  Red surf fish/sea cucumber
• Avake:  Collectors urchin
• Paua:  Clam 
• Rori toto:  Blood sea cucumber
• Rori matie:  ‘Green fish’ (spiky looking sea cucumber)
• Remu kai:  Sea grapes
• Onu:  Turtle
• Eke:  Octopus 

What to take  on a reef walk with Ariimoana

• Protective footwear:  If you have hiking boots or solid sneakers these are your best bet.  Water shoes for swimming will not protect you against the sharp rocks. 
• Sun protection: Wear a wide brimmed sunhat to protect against the sun and cover up with a layer of clothing.  You will be out in the sun for several hours. 
• Sunscreen: Check first to use reef-safe sunscreen.
• Walking pole: You will be given one of these to help you balance and avoid walking where there might be coral. 
• Camera: Because it is incredible! 

How long does the walk take? 

The walk itself takes around 2 – 3 hours in total including a delicious fruit platter and fresh, cold nu to drink afterwards. 

What time of day is best to do the reef walk? 

The best time to walk in the lagoon is the hour either side of low tide.  

Contact Ariimoana about a reef walk in Rarotonga

If you are interested in a reef walk in Rarotonga with Ariimoana more information is available on their Facebook page and Instagram .

Or just give Kura a call on +682 70 070 and find out when the next best time is to explore the incredible reef life of this magical island. 

Wondering about itineraries?  Questions about schooling?  See our Family Travel Guides and FAQ here . 

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Zoloti Vorota

A perfect mix of cafés, music, shops and curiosities. Zoloti Vorota is an incredibly special part of Kyiv with some of the most interesting little places.

Laska Charity Store

Barbara bar, georgian food, ravens on reitarska, kyivska perepichka, the blue cup coffee shop, explore more neighborhoods, stare misto, universytet, hotel indigo and on the grid value your feedback..

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Your Kiev Guide Private Kiev Guide services.

Podil tour – the oldest part of Kiev

Kiev is impossible without Podil! Any historian, tour guide and just a man in love with our capital will assure you in this.

During the Podil tour you will be amazed with the outstanding architecture of 18 and 19 centuries, you will find out where the 1st electric tram in times of the Russia empire started to operate; you will learn why Contract square is called so and visit one of the oldest churches in Kiev. And most important you will understand why Kiev is impossible without Podil (Podol)!

Postal square and Christ Nativity Church.

We will start our Podil tour from the metro station Pochtova Square. Here the street, Petra Sagaidachnogo begins, which was known as the Great Pavement street several centuries ago (later – Alexandrovskaya). It was named so because first paving stones in Kiev were put here. Leaving the metro, we immediately will see the Church of the Christ Nativity, which was built in the distant 1520 by the architect Andrei Melensky. Later in 1810-1814 it was reconstructed from the wooden into the one.

Then you will be amazed with the Kontraktova (Contract) square – the trade and handicraft center of the ancient Kyiv.  Kontraktova square – center of Podil, has been known since prince’s times as a shopping center, but already in the 17th-19th centuries it became also the public center of Kiev. The Kiev city Magistrate building was placed here, not on Kreshatyk street as one may think!

During the Podil tour you will see:

• Postal square – place of the 1st settelers in Kiyv;
• Funicular (1905);
• Kontract square – trade and handicraft center of ancient Kiev;
• Contract house (1815) and Samson fontaine (1749);
• Kyiv-Mogyla academie – one of the 1st Universities in Kiev (XVII century);
• Church of Our Pirogoschaya (XII century);
• modern street art and murals;

Price : from  15$ per hour (does not include entrance fees and transportation services) Duration :  about 3-4 hours.

More Kiev tours with private guide you may find here