Students Dive in Rarotonga

The recent school holiday was eagerly anticipated by sixteen Year 12 and 13 College students for they were heading to Rarotonga for a 10-day dive trip to the tropical island.

While the trip was open to all students, a number of them are studying NCEA Level 2 (Year 12) or Level 3 (Year 13) Outdoor Education; a course aimed at students who have a genuine love for the outdoors and are prepared to meet the many challenges in diverse settings. The course aims for students to become actively knowledgeable, skilled and safe in selected activities, with care for the environment a paramount focus. The modules provide a range of outdoor challenges as diverse as sea and white water kayaking, bushcraft, mountaineering skills, mountain biking and SCUBA diving, along with the added challenge of a solo overnight experience. The students examine the concept of outdoor education as a worthwhile, life-long interest as well as its potential for future employment.

Until this trip, the Outdoor Education students’ experience of diving had taken place in the mid-winter chill of the College pool and the equally bracing Poor Knights Islands! It was a welcome change to don wetsuits to enter the balmy, tropical waters!

The students were pleased that Robert Elmes, the SCUBA instructor who works with them at College, had agreed to join them on the trip. For the students it was a familiar face to be working with on the dives, and for the College staff, an expert to discuss dive plans with. The aim at the start of the trip was for each student to complete four dives from a boat and one night dive. Six of the sixteen had signed up before the trip to complete their advanced course while in ‘Raro.’

The group arrived late on Friday night and settled quickly into the Tiarre Village Motel ready for the first group to be up for their first dive the following day. As always, the one thing that could not be planned for was the weather and unfortunately the strong winds whipped up the sea causing some to experience sea sickness. The wind, unfortunately, stayed for a whole week requiring us to make new plans.

With water temperatures of 24 degrees each day and visibility ranging from 15m to 40m over the time, students were able to experience the joys of diving in a tropical island. The varied dives allowed the students to encounter a wide range of tropical fish with highlights being a turtle and white tip sharks!

Sadly, with the weather not working in our favour, the night dives were cancelled and safer night snorkelling was substituted. Students geared up on three nights with dive torch in hand to go and explore a local lagoon. The local half-metre puffer fish was the highlight as students raced around exploring.

As a service element, beach clean ups were also completed a couple of times with large amounts of rubbish taken off the beach. Students also travelled with a large quantity of books and sports gear which was dropped off to one of the local primary schools and very gratefully received.

The trip was greatly enjoyed by the students and it was a fantastic opportunity for them to put their learning into context.

The Dive Sites

Mataora Wreck 12m - 20m

The Mataora, once a Tongan registered 395hp cargo vessel, 44.25m in length and 299 gross tonnes was purchased on the 11th Dec 1990 for the massive sum of $1! She started her last voyage to the sea bed a couple of days later and now lies in 18m just off the reef to the north of the island. This is a great place to search out lionfish and the even rarer oscillated variety.

Paradise 12m - 24m

This site was rich with fish life with a coral landscape that provided a stunning backdrop with plenty to see in and around all the swim-throughs and bommies. 

Click here to watch a video of the trip.