スイム・ウィズ・ザ・タートルズ・ラロトンガ

My partner and I visited Rarotonga last week and had a few different activities planned, swimming with the turtles was our final activity booked. We originally booked through trip advisor which caused to an issue with our activity start time. Trip advisor did not update the start time which Snorkel Cook Islands had changed due to the tides, which caused us to be 2hrs early! The operators were very helpful with this and suggested we go for a walk along the beach with a coffee while we wait. This activity was well worth the wait!! Snorkel Cook Islands was very entertaining, the staff were very friendly, helpful and fun. They accommodated the activity very well for guests with varied swimming confidence. The confident swimmers were at the front of the group, and the less confident were at the back with the lifeguards and had pool noodles available for assistance. After riding through the current, we were free to explore the area however we liked! Turtles were swimming all around the surface and shallow areas, but for more confident swimmers you could dive down and see the turtles sleeping and swimming in the deep areas. Even from the surface, you could see the large group of rays at the sea floor, it was so stunning!!! My partner and I loved this activity so much, that as soon as we got back to our accomodation, we booked it again for the next day. I would 10000% recommend this activity with Snorkel Cook Islands, I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!!!! My one advice would be to book directly through the provider's website, as they will keep you updated with any time changes that are made due to the tides, and provide a more thorough run through of what to expect and how to prepare before your activity. We booked our first visit through tripadvisor, and our second one through the Snorkel Cook Islands website - I'd definitely recommend the latter. If you or anyone you know is visiting Rarotonga, this is a must do activity!

Very kind and hospitable staff. They were so helpful with my children (11 & 8) making the experience fun and safe for everyone. Beautiful coral and amazing to see the turtles!

The highlight of our trip to Rarotonga. Would definitely go again. Friendly staff, family oriented. Highly recommend.

Ensure you are a strong swimmer, the currents are quite strong and I found it a little challenging at times

Very cool experience and great to see so many turtles and fish

Absolutely outstanding experience with Snorkel Rarotonga! From start to finish, everything exceeded expectations. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about sharing the beauty of Rarotonga's incredible marine environment. What really stood out was how supportive, patient, and accommodating the team was, especially for inexperienced snorkelers. They took the time to explain everything clearly, made sure everyone felt comfortable and confident in the water, and never rushed anyone. Their encouragement made the experience enjoyable and stress-free, no matter your skill level. I was equally impressed by their commitment to sustainability and protecting the reef ecosystem. Unlike many tours, they don't use boats or noisy sea scooters, allowing guests to experience the reef in a more natural way while minimizing disturbance to marine life. They also educate everyone on responsible snorkeling practices, encouraging guests to avoid touching coral or disturbing wildlife. Their respect for the ocean isn't just something they talk about—it's at the heart of everything they do. The snorkeling itself was breathtaking, with crystal-clear water, vibrant coral, and an incredible variety of tropical fish. Knowing the experience is designed to have such a low environmental impact made it even more meaningful. If you're looking for a world-class snorkeling adventure with a team that genuinely cares about both its guests and the marine environment, Snorkel Rarotonga is the perfect choice. Their passion, professionalism, and dedication to conservation make this an unforgettable experience. I can't recommend them highly enough and will definitely be back! 🌊🐠💙

Great Raro vibe and very professional with it.

Must do activity when visiting the island. Up close with marine life and coral gardens. Friendly service ensuring everyone had a fun and safe time 💗

Big T and Elijah were great guides and made us feel safe swimming down the channel to see the turtles and back again. Very cool how much they care for them. It was our first time seeing turtles and we got to see so many!

Will start with the positives - lovely family run business, the snorkelling gear is good & the turtles are simply amazing. HOWEVER there needs to be some serious conversations had between tour operators to set up a system that reduces the number of people swimming in the passage at any one time. There were 40+ people in our group as well as several other tour groups in small area of water at same time. Constantly had flippers in our faces & people swimming on top of us. Not only detracted from our “nature experience” but is obviously unsustainable for the turtles & the coral. We felt like cattle being herded & crammed into tight space. Lost one of our guides at the beginning - the one who was s’posed to be taking the underwater footage of us - to some Americans off a cruise ship who were part of our group but wanted to be guided privately. Can only imagine the tip he must have been getting for him to just take off and leave. The other guides then had to manage our large group in the water, regularly shouting at us to keep to our small area. In summary, seeing turtles in the water was very special but the tour operators in this area need to sort out sustainability and significantly reduce group numbers. There was an offer to return and do trip for discounted rate. Sad not to have photos but the feeling of being back with a crowd and herded back into the water did not appeal.