Aitutaki is a 50 minutes flight north of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. It is shaped similar to a triangle with sides about 12km (7.5 miles) long. Most of the lagoon's water is around 1-3 m deep with only a few areas of water deeper than 5 m. Our local chartered boat will transport us to the best locations within the lagoon for our swims.
Summary
Explore the warm clear blue waters of Aitutaki Lagoon
Swim with beautiful tropical fish and other interesting marine wildlife like turtles and giant clams
Enjoy the lagoon's shallow water sheltered from swells and ocean waves
Experience a trip outside of the lagoon to have a very high chance to view or even swim with humpback whales
Be comfortable in warm waters of around 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Stay right on Ootu beach, one of the the most beautiful beaches in the Cook Islands
Who are these swims for?
Gallery
About The Host
Steve
Steve has always had an affinity for the ocean. That started with childhood family trips to the beach (his parents often had to forcefully remove him from the ocean kicking and screaming), attempts at surfing in his late teens/early 20s (he was rubbish at catching waves but didn’t care and loved being out in the water and having banter with friends) and fishing trips with his Father (he would much rather swim with fish these days).
It wasn't until Steve took up Triathlon 15 years ago that he discovered the joys of ocean swimming. Since then ocean swimming has gradually morphed into a passion/obsession which has been fueled by several magical marine wildlife encounters. His favorite so far occurred in 2021 when a pod of Orca decided to swim over and check him out (you can see the video from that encounter below).
Steve loves encouraging others to join in on the fun and it brings him great joy when a person completes their first ocean swim, and they are left buzzing. Steve reckons the exercise-induced endorphins, being out in and feeling connected to nature, marine wildlife spotting, meeting new people, and having a laugh do make ocean swimming holidays hard to beat!
Itinerary
Things to keep in mind
FAQ
Can I bring non swimming friends/family?
Of course you can and there are heaps of activities for them to do while you swim. They may be able to join us on the daily charter boat excursions including the morning with humpback whales if there is space available.
Do I need a wetsuit?
The typical water temperature of our swims in Aitutaki is around 26 Degrees Celsius (79 Degrees Fahrenheit) and most people are comfortable swimming in these temperatures without a wetsuit.
Am I likely to encounter any marine wildlife?
Aitutaki Lagoon is full of beautiful tropical fish and other interesting marine wildlife like turtles and giant clams. We will also be aiming to swim with humpback whales during one half day charter trip outside of the lagoon!
I am not sure if I can keep up with the group?
We accommodate different swimming speeds and usually break the group into slower and faster swimmers.
You are welcome to use flippers if you like. You can also take a break on the support boat at any time.
It is not a race, however we do require a minimum ability of being able to swim 1 km in under 40 minutes.
I am not sure I can swim the distances several days in a row.
With the focus on easy swimming and plenty of time to recover, you may be pleasantly surprised how well you ’perform’! If you need a break during any of our swims you are welcome to hop on the accompanying boat and relax for a while and then jump back in to swim as you wish.