Rutaki Passage

Rutaki Passage is a reef channel on the southwest coast of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific. The pass cuts through the fringing reef and lagoon system typical of the island's coastline, offering a route between the shallow inner lagoon and the deeper water beyond. It reaches a maximum depth of around 20 metres and is generally rated an intermediate dive. Divers have also reported conditions here that can turn dangerous, so care around the channel's currents and surge is warranted.

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
• Greenfish Sea CucumberStichopus chloronotusReported here · unconfirmed
• Lollyfish Sea CucumberHolothuria atraReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Rock-boring UrchinEchinometra mathaeiReported here · unconfirmed
• Threespot WrasseHalichoeres trimaculatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue-black UrchinEchinothrix diademaReported here · unconfirmed
• Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon aurigaReported here · unconfirmed
• Lagoon TriggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue LinckiaLinckia laevigataReported here · unconfirmed
• Small Giant ClamTridacna maximaReported here · unconfirmed