Arorangi Passage

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© Adventure Cook Islands, Rarotonga

Arorangi Passage

★★★★★ (4)

This is the smallest and shallowest of all the passages in Rarotonga and has frequently very strong currents. This main passage has been dredged out in recent years to make it suitable for smaller vessels and cruise ship tenders.

The site features different canyons and swim-throughs on the outside to explore and you may see lion fish and reef sharks.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
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Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Adventure Cook Islands

Aroa Beach, 0000 Rarotonga, COK

Dive Sites Nearby

Mares

Aramoana Mole (★3.9)

Deepest off the very end at about 30 metres, although most dives are around 10 – 15 metres. The Mole is a man-made rock wall constructed to protect the harbour entrance from silting. It directs the tidal jet and keeps the channel clear. Generally the further along the Mole you go, the deeper the water is.
Mares

Marakura Bay (★4.2)

Marakura Bay has a stoney shoreline at the south eastern end of Te Anau township. The site is easily accessible as a shore dive and slopes slowly close to shore. The slop quickly increases to the point there it starts to drop quickly and you can get 20m of depth only a short swim from shore.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Sunshine Bay (★4.8)

Sunshine Bay Boat Ramp is located within Lake Whakatipu. The site has a fault line with steep terraced cliff faces that drop to beyond diveable depths. The site has very interesting geological foundations that provide for a fantastic fresh water wall dive.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Sinbad Gully (★4.4)

Inner Fiord dive with some reef and steep walls. Some black coral trees, tube anemones, wrasses, perches and a chance for seven gill and dogshark shark encounters.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

The Triangle (★4.6)

This inner Fiord dive site is a mix of rocky shoreline leading onto sand plus steep wall diving. There is a steep drop-off that houses one of the largest black coral trees in the Fiord at about 18 meters that has a few carpet shark eggs attached. Generally a thick surface freshwater layer and darker conditions.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Harrison Cove (★4.7)

Dive Site starts out on shallow gravel bottom composition to 45 degree sloping muddy sandy bottom with a few rock outcrops with some growth of black coral. Sharky site.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Bridal Veil (★4.8)

Bridal Veil is a gentle sloping site, starting at Bridal Veil beach with a wall extending out all the way to Copper Point. Generally sheltered training site in the shallow part.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Butterfly Wall (★4.2)

Butterfly wall starts in a sheltered cove with gently sloping stoney sandy bottom down to rocky sandy reef. Turns into a steep wall dive on both sides.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Walk the Dog Wall (★4.8)

Walk the dog Wall is an extreme wall dive site with a towering cliff above extending to at least 80 meters depth on parts of the wall. Main features are black and red coral, butterfly perch and dogsharks.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Cray’s Crack (★4.6)

This marine reserve site has a rocky reef extending on a 45 degree slope to about 18 meters before turning to sand. Turns into steep wall with initially a seafloor shelf at 20 meters but dropping off to around 80 meters in parts. Rich in black coral and crayfish.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Dale Point (★4.3)

This marine reserve site is a mix of wall dive with steep drop offs and some reef. Abundant in large black coral, yellow zoanthids and plenty of fish life.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Penguin Cove (★4.6)

This marine reserve site starts on shallow shelf. From here a rocky reef slopes to deeper waters on a 45 degree angle. Features large black coral trees. Both sides of the cove turn into steep and deep wall dives.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Dale Green (★4.7)

Dale Green features a varied site with some reef and steep wall aspects. Walls drop to 80 meters depth close to shore. Large black coral trees and abundant fish life around them. Has red coral colonies in overhangs.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Greenstone Beach (★5.0)

Greenstone Beach features a rocky shoreline starting at 5 meters depth with a sloping 45 degree rocky reef with large boulders dotted along the coastline.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Greenstone Point (★4.7)

Wall dive suitable for deep and technical diving profiles extending to a max depth of 90m. Greenstone Point is located on the southern side of the entrance to Milford Sound.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Post Office Rock (★4.4)

This near coastal features a colourful kelpy rocky reef and drops off gently to sandy floor at about 25 meters max. Abundant with reef fish and the occasional seven gill shark.
Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Fox Cove (★4.7)

Located on the outer Fiord this site features a rocky reef to sandy bottom with a max depth of around 20 meters depending where in the cove. Exposed in north to northwest winds and sheltered in southwesterly wind directions.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Paia Point (★4.2)

Borders the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. Visible from the Paia Point Campground (SH1) are two set of rockys reefs. Note that the shore entry is challenging and the surface swim is can be 20mins.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

The Sisters (★4.9)

Two rocks that breach the surface can be seen NE of Barney’s Rock. On the outside of the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. 15-20 minute boat south journey from South Bay Marina.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Barney’s Rock (★4.6)

Barney’s Rock (Panau Island) is located 15min south on SH1 From Daves Diving Kaikoura. This is the gateway to the Hikurangi Marine Reserve and diving around the island you reach depths of 19m.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Sharks Tooth Kaikoura (★4.4)

Off the east coast of the peninsula, launch from The South Bay Marina. The point that resembles a Sharks Tooth the bays north from there. Also known as Whalers Bay.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Whalers Bay Kaikoura (★4.4)

The first bay over from South Bay on the eastern face of the Kaikoura peninsula. 10 minute boat ride from the South Bay Marina. Depth ranging between 6m and 30m.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Peter’s Rock (Cone Rock) (★4.9)

A pinnacle of coastal rocks not far off from Baxter’s Reef no more than a 3 minute boat ride from the marina in South Bay. Depths ranging from 10m - 25m.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Rhino Horn (★4.8)

The second bay on the eastern face of the Kaikoura Peninsula when launching from South Bay Marina. A hill on in the bay represents a Rhino Horn Giving the site it’s name. The kelp and rocky sea floor supplements many dens and surfaces to sustain many coastal marine life.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

South Bay Kaikoura (★3.8)

Great bay to spend the afternoon on the south side of the Kaikoura Peninsula! The entry point in an “v“ shape cut out in the reef by old whalers. That whole sheltered area is a great place to spear fish and explore. Depths extend to 14m in high tide in some areas.