| The Cook Islands are named after the first | | | | summer, providing you with the perfect climate |
| European to land there in the 18th century, | | | | for your Cook Island diving adventure. |
| Captain Cook. They are now an independent state | | | | Cook Island diving consists of mostly easy and |
| with a small population and are fiercely protective | | | | relaxed reef diving, although there are some |
| of their rich cultural heritage. As far as diving | | | | wreck diving opportunities. Rarotonga is |
| goes, Cook island diving is ideal for beginners and | | | | surrounded by a lagoon which provides an ideal |
| although not very challenging for seasoned divers, | | | | environment for snorkelling. If you venture |
| still offers beautiful marine life, warm waters all | | | | beyond the lagoon, you will encounter more |
| year and lush rainforests and streams on the | | | | exciting dives as the Cook Islands are home to |
| island for above-the-sea adventures. | | | | many underwater caves, canyons and tunnels. |
| Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands and | | | | The island is best avoided from November to |
| the name appropriately means 'down south'. | | | | March during the cyclone season but July to |
| Despite being the largest island, it is still tiny and | | | | October are the ideal months for visiting, as it is |
| you can complete the island circuit by car in under | | | | humpback whale season. While diving in the Cook |
| an hour. Rarotonga offers the best of both | | | | Islands you are bound to encounter a variety of |
| worlds, as it is fringed by miles of sandy beaches | | | | marine life, including magnificent mantra rays, |
| and coral reefs and inland are enigmatic misty and | | | | barracudas and marlin, as well as Spanish dancers, |
| lush mountains. If 'tropical paradise' springs to | | | | sailfish and turtles. The numerous species of coral |
| mind, you're not far off, as it is situated just | | | | are unfortunately under invasion from destructive |
| inside the tropic of Capricorn and the water | | | | crown of thorn starfish but recent culling has |
| temperature fluctuates between a temperate 23 | | | | proven to be successful. |
| degrees Celsius and a warm 30 degrees in | | | | |