Patricia Greig looks at the best spots to get eyeball-to-eyeball with fish on your next visit to the islands of the South Pacific. The water around Niue is largely considered the clearest in the world because it is filtered by the island's coastal limestone
Rarotonga
Aro'a Marine Reserve has no boats, so swimmers can observe marine life undisturbed. Perfect for first-timers, with guides on hand and gear for hire nearby. The reserve sports clear waters and a healthy population of sea creatures such as parrotfish, moorish idols, wrasse and angelfish. Tours run at night time, too, so visitors can see nocturnal critters. In this protected reserve, conservation and awareness of the delicate eco-system are promoted.
The Lagoon opposite Fruits of Rarotonga is also a great place to snorkel - and get a snack.
Aitutaki
The Cook Islands' classic. Because of the dynamic flow of water through the Full Moon Channel there's a rich food source for marine life, making it a rewarding area for snorkelling. Once again, this is a reserve, so there are no boats to disturb a snorkeller, and looking but no touching is essential to help preserve the environment.
With no deep channels into the lagoon, the waters are warm, the currents are gentle and the swimming is fantastic. But definitely don't forget your reef shoes - a cut from the coral can get nasty and stonefish bask in the warm waters. Another good spot is Honeymoon Island, next to Maina, where you can spot sea turtles sunning themselves.
Tahiti
Take in tropical snorkelling right off the beach at Moorea. At the northwest corner of the island, snorkellers can find spots to swim and sunbathe, or rent a boat to head over to Motu Moea for lunch. Tamae Public Beach has some of the island's best snorkelling, is shared with the Sofitel resort and is relatively safe despite the sharks and stingrays. The lagoon around the islets off Haapiti is also an ideal snorkelling spot, but keep an eye out as the currents can be strong coming in and out around the nearby reef.
Vanuatu
The adventure capital of the Pacific has some of the world's best diving sites. Snorkellers Cove, near Iririki Island Resort, on the main island of Efate is a must visit. A shop near by hires out gear and sells food and drinks so your time at the cove is almost guaranteed to be the furthest thing from a mission as possible. Take a day trip to Hideaway Island to observe some truly spectacular marine life. Again, protective footwear is a must as the beach is all coral. The staff at Hideaway are very hospitable and so equipment hire and tours of the reef are very accessible. There are many buses from Port Vila to the jetty, and a ferry to Hideaway is easy to catch.
Niue
The water around Niue is largely considered the clearest in the world because it is filtered by the island's coastal limestone. Caves and rock pools along the coast are perfect for snorkelling and the pristine environment makes for marvellous marine life observation - the Limu Pools are highly recommended, as is the Matapa Chasm. The areas are relatively easy to find with signs, information boards and picnic areas. Sea snakes and flying fish are common in these parts, and from July to October humpback whales migrate through the waters.
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