The Aroa Marine Reserve is one of the oldest reserves here in Rarotonga. With only a depth of 1 1/2 to 3 meters it is a very safe place for snorkeling. we have over 70 different species to look at. Everyone is most welcome to enjoy the snorkeling there and make a difference!!there are a couple of things you can do to protect our beautiful lagoon!What You Can Do• Make sure your gear fits properly, is comfortable and adjusted before you go in the water! If you need to make adjustments, find a sandy area to stand or swim back to shore.•When snorkeling, stay horizontal and float OVER the reef!• Observe animals exhibiting their natural behaviors rather than stimulate them to entertain.•No need for feeding bread or other food to the fish – instead bang two little stones/rocks together.Thank you for looking after our lagoon !!!Take nothing but memories and leave nothing but bubbles
Hired snorkelling gear from across the road, $12 for 24 hours- great deal. Beware the tide especially if the wind is strong. Quite a few fish, and we had a lovely day there. Dont bother with the tea or coffee from the cafe adjacent to the shop. The best place to snorkellmis down the beach from the Beachcomber resort opposite the dive shop.
Right by Rarotongan Resort. Spot with the most fish to see. Easier with flippers as current was pushing us along on the days we visited.Very beautiful spot.Had backpack on scooter with towel and snorkelling gear in.
This marine reserve is the area near the Rarotongan Beach Resort. It is NOT the area around Fruits of Rarotonga. Some areas of Aroa have some wicked currents (not undertow) that can fire you down the beach several meters before you know it and it can be difficult to get out of the current. The currents are not tide related and seem to come and go at a whim, you just have to go out and try. The safest area for weak swimmers or children is around the dive shop. This area is very similar in snorkeling to the area at Fruits of Rarotonga (Tikioki Beach).
Went several times as best on island and returned after visiting Aitutaki and thought it was better than there. Also went into it from the Rarotongan resort and all good snorkling along there. We found it when we were trying to escape the south winds at Titikaveka. Take away on corner by Dive shop also okay and did good coffee (but check their adding up.)
Superb visibility, heaps of sea life and warm water! even saw a turtle. Best snorkelling site we found on island
So beautiful! Literally had to drag myself out of this lagoon everyday. The snorkeling is amazing! There are so many fish, so much interesting life all around you, you could loose your self for hours!
We snorkeled (and did a couple of scuba dives as well) in half-a-dozen sites around Rarotonga, and this is the best! A wide variety of fish (we saw 8 different species of butterfly fish in one session!) lots of live coral, warm, clear water, and no current to speak of made it easy and pleasant. The sandy beach provides a trouble-free entry, and the bus will drop you and pick you up right at Aroa Beach on request. The Dive Centre right across the street kindly let us leave our gear bag with street clothes in their shop, even though we had our own gear and thus weren't paying customers. *Very* hospitable!
Park beside the Rarotongan Beach Resort, or even in the resorts carpark, wander down to the waterline where you'll be greeted by fish in ankle deep water, take some bread down with you and feed them by hand. we even saw octopus out deeper. great snorkeling
Very good snorkeling here and just across the road from the Big fish dive shop. You can hire good quality snorkeling gear at the dive shop for that enhanced experience..