Rarotonga snorkelling: Why it wasn't the highlight we expected

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Rarotonga snorkelling is one of the island’s biggest attractions. After hearing so many glowing reviews, we expected it to be one of the highlights of our trip. While we enjoyed our time in the water and can absolutely see why so many travellers love it, our experience was different from what we expected. Here’s why.

Our experience and expectations

Before visiting Rarotonga, we’ve been incredibly lucky to have snorkelled in some exceptional places around the world, such as the Philippines, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. We’ve also had fantastic experiences much closer to home, including swimming with turtles near Brisbane. So we tend to look for something that feels unique when we snorkel in a new destination. It’s important to keep this in mind when reading my perspective about Rarotonga snorkelling.

If you’ve never snorkelled on a coral reef before and never seen turtles, your opinion of Rarotonga will be completely different from ours, and you may well find it one of the highlights of your trip.

Where we snorkelled in Rarotonga

During our 9 days on the island, we tried three of Rarotonga’s most recommended snorkelling experiences: the lagoon in front of The Rarotongan Resort (in the Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve), Muri Lagoon, and a guided snorkelling tour through the Avaavaroa Passage.

We also heard locals recommend other popular spots like Fruits of Raro and Black Rock, but everybody seemed to agree The Rarotongan / Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve was the best lagoon option. After our experience there, we decided not to continue chasing every snorkelling spot and instead focused on other activities like hiking around the island.

Lagoon snorkelling: The Rarotongan Resort and Muri Lagoon

We first snorkelled in Muri Lagoon, as the other lagoon areas were affected by large swell at the beginning of our stay. We followed local advice and explored the right side of the islet in front of the Nautilus Resort, which was recommended as one of the better areas for snorkelling in Muri Lagoon. Once conditions improved, we also tried snorkelling in front of The Rarotongan Resort (in the Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve), which we had been told was one of the best easily accessible spots.

It of course depends on how you get around the island, but for us both spots were very easy to access independently. We parked our car and simply walked down to the lagoon. In Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve, there is parking opposite Adventure Rarotonga, where you can also hire snorkelling gear. For Muri Lagoon, there is parking opposite KiteSUP.

In both locations, we saw a mix of multiple reef fish including some colourful species, and visibility was generally good. There were corals but overall the underwater scenery felt sparse. It’s mostly about seeing fish. It wasn’t bad snorkelling at all, and we can understand why people enjoy it so much – it just didn’t stand out for us. If you spend more time in the water, you may get to spot a turtle.

If I had to choose between the two, I’d snorkel in the Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve (in front ot The Rarotonga Resort) rather than Muri Lagoon with no hesitation. That’s where all the photos in this section above (not the turtles) were taken. We enjoyed seeing a big ray in Muri Lagoon but otherwise, there weren’t as many fish.

Avaavaroa Passage snorkelling tour

We joined a guided tour in the Avaavaroa Passage to try a different environment, including the chance to see turtles and eagle rays. Considering the number of turtles we spotted, I wouldn’t be surprised if they guarantee seeing them every time it’s safe to go!

We found it more interesting than the lagoon but it wasn’t entirely satisfying for us as experienced snorkellers who are comfortable free diving. We found the pace of the tour quite slow because it needed to cater for everyone in the group, which for us meant a lack of freedom. Since independent snorkelling in the Avaavaroa Passage is absolutely not recommended due to strong currents (and we were told fatal accidents have occurred there), a guided tour is the safest option. However, we felt that much of what we paid for, other than supervision – equipment and underwater photos – wasn’t really necessary for us personally. Less experienced snorkellers would likely get much more value from the experience than we did, and many in our group clearly loved it.

What makes Rarotonga snorkelling so popular?

There are several reasons why snorkelling in Rarotonga is so highly rated by many travellers.

The lagoon is warm, the water is generally very clear, and it is incredibly easy to access snorkelling spots directly from the beach. The island is also small, which means if one area is affected by wind or swell, you can often find calmer conditions somewhere else along the coast. Fish are not scared and turtles are also commonly seen, which is a highlight for many visitors.

For people new to snorkelling or those who haven’t spent much time on coral reefs before, this is an amazing experience. Swimming alongside turtles in such an easy, relaxed setting is something many travellers will never forget.

Responsible travel tip: Turtles in Rarotonga are used to people, so if you stay calm and avoid chasing them or making sudden movements, they may happily swim close to you. Enjoy the encounter, but never touch a turtle. Give them space to move freely and let them decide how close they want to get.

What we’d recommend if you have more time

If snorkelling is a priority during your Rarotonga holiday and you’re interested in underwater scenery (not just fish), I’d suggest spending more time exploring beyond the main lagoon spots when conditions allow. We didn’t snorkel the outer reef ourselves, but we saw some beautiful underwater scenery while scuba diving, including healthy coral formations and a school of sailfish (a rare sight!). Some operators offer snorkelling trips there when weather conditions are suitable, and this is where we’d look next for something different.

We’d also try a few more snorkelling spots around the island. Sometimes all it takes is one memorable encounter – such as a fish species you’ve never seen before – to change your impression of a destination.

So, is Rarotonga snorkelling worth it?

Rarotonga snorkelling is absolutely worth doing, but it depends on your expectations. If this is your first time snorkelling in a tropical destination, or if you mainly want an easy, relaxed experience where you can see colourful fish and maybe turtles, you’ll probably love it.

If you’ve already snorkelled in destinations with vibrant coral reefs, you may find that snorkelling in Rarotonga is enjoyable but not necessarily the highlight of your trip.

For us, it was a pleasant activity rather than a standout experience. We would snorkel again if we returned, as it was fun to see fish and turtles. But we wouldn’t recommend planning a trip to Rarotonga specifically for the snorkelling; the underwater landscape in the lagoon didn’t impress us at all. Instead, we’d treat it as one of many easy and enjoyable things to do around the island, alongside hiking, exploring, and enjoying the local food and scenery.

Did you go snorkelling in Rarotonga? Share your experience in the comments below!

Should you bring equipment for snorkelling in Rarotonga?

If you want to travel light, you can hire everything you need for snorkelling on the island at Adventure Cook Islands. The gear offered by GoLocal for their tour was of good quality. But if you’re planning to snorkel several times during your stay, here’s what we’d recommend packing:

Mask and snorkel: We always prefer to bring our own, both for hygiene reasons and because we know they fit well and are comfortable for long periods in the water.
Fins: Most hire shops provide closed-heel fins, which aren’t our favourite. We prefer our open-heel fins with water shoes, especially as we find them more comfortable when walking in and out of the water.
Wetsuit: We found the water chilly in June and were glad to have wetsuits so we could stay in the water for longer. In summer, a long-sleeve rashie and leggings can provide useful sun protection and reduce how much sunscreen you need.

Bringing your own equipment also means that snorkelling in the lagoon (not the passage!) can become a free activity while in Rarotonga.

Responsible travel tip: Your sunscreen can harm the fragile coral reef ecosystem. When snorkelling or swimming in the ocean, cover up with long sleeves and pants whenever possible. If you use sunscreen, choose a mineral-based option, which is less harmful to the environment and provides excellent protection. Apply it at least 20 minutes before entering the water to maximise effectiveness. See the full list of reef-safe sunscreens here.