Scuba Diving Cook Islands – A Magical Experience in the Land of Blue Waters

For those that love scuba diving, Cook Islands are an undiscovered paradise. The two more populous islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki offer several places for divers to enjoy. Both have active dive shops available as well. The islands sit amidst some of the cleanest waters in the South Pacific. Tropical fish swim actively and in abundance amongst the various coral reefs. Divers experience various sharks and rays during their dives along the coral reefs and in the lagoons. Those with a wide variety of experience will enjoy their time in the waters around the Cooks.

For those new to scuba diving, Cook Islands have facilities to show you how to dive. Some just want to learn the basics while others stay a bit longer and get their certification for diving anywhere in open waters around the world. There are training pools available so your first dive will not be with the sharks. For advanced divers, many choose to go to the Cooks to get further certification while also experiencing the beauty of the waters that surround the various islands. Challenge is not on the menu with most dives in the Cooks. However, the scenery will take anyone’s breath away from novice to dive master.

For those that want to experience scuba diving Cook Islands offer dive spots that are easy to find. Each of the islands sits at the top of an old volcanic mountain that sits at the bottom of the ocean. The atolls and islands form the peak of the mountain. For divers, this means that most good diving is near the shores of the atoll or island. The further you get away from the land, the deeper the side of the underwater mountain goes. The best diving is therefore off the coral reefs that surround the islands. There are often deeper spots just off the island that offer some challenge before finally dropping off completely.

For experts in scuba diving Cook Islands may not be the biggest challenge in the world. The diving is not deep water and there are few hazards. However, even experts will revel in the clear blue waters and beautiful fish. One note of caution is that there is no decompression equipment in the Cooks. Medical authorities must fly any one suffering from the bends to New Zealand by special plane. Without proper insurance, this can cost big bucks. So just, be prepared before traveling.