Avaavaroa Passage

Avaavaroa Passage is a channel through the reef on the south coast of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, where the lagoon breaks out to open ocean along a stretch of coastline reached from the island's coastal road. It reaches a maximum depth of around 30 metres and is rated an advanced dive. Divers have reported fast moving water and generally dangerous conditions through the passage, so timing with the tides matters here. Sea turtles have also been spotted moving through the channel.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Sunset WrasseThalassoma lutescensReported here · unconfirmed
• Hawaiian Convict SurgeonfishAcanthurus triostegusReported here · unconfirmed
• Lollyfish Sea CucumberHolothuria atraReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue LinckiaLinckia laevigataReported here · unconfirmed
• Greenfish Sea CucumberStichopus chloronotusReported here · unconfirmed
• Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon aurigaReported here · unconfirmed
• Lagoon TriggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Rock-boring UrchinEchinometra mathaeiReported here · unconfirmed
• Small Giant ClamTridacna maximaReported here · unconfirmed
• Threespot WrasseHalichoeres trimaculatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed