It was during the Great Polynesian Migration in 1500BC that the first inhabitants of the Cook Islands arrived in their giant canoes (Vaka's) using stellar navigation. The famous Chieftan at the time - Toi, presided over the construction of a coral road known today as Aa Metua. The existence of the Great Road of Toi and the reason for its construction endlessly perplexed early European explorers. Today the road is filled in with tar and at 1000 yrs old, remains in excellent condition.
The islands are named by the Russians, in honour of Captain James Cook who arrived there in the late 1700's. Today the remaining culture is a combination of both Polynesia and European.
The people of the Cook Islands are known to celebrate their proud heritage and culture on as many occasions as possible. Their traditional tribal dance, known as the hypnotic Ura, is said to stay with visitors long after their departure.
Each island has their own story to tell through the dance and it is integrated into the lives of the tribal members from a very young age, they even compete between islands.
The Cooks comprise 15 islands surrounded by the Samoas, Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia. Today its total population is 19,000 with Rarotonga, the largest island, home to the capital Avarua.
A trip to the Outer Islands will take the traveler to the likes of Aitutaki with its huge sunken lagoon and 20 uninhabited accompanying islands, as well as Atiu and Mangaia, for those who prefer exploring the more remote corners of the world.
Palmerston is a large atoll with 30 smaller coral atolls surrounding north-west of Aitutaki and is inhabited by only 50 people - all of whom are the descendents of the Englishman William Masters and his three Cook Island spouses.
The Cook Islands Scuba Diving
Scuba divers will concentrate their attention on the main island of Rarotonga. The area isn't structured commercially toward divers such as the rest of the South Pacific with its various resorts, but they do have a small number of dive operators.
The reefs and drop offs are home to beautiful tropical fish, sharks, mantas and barracudas. Visibility generally averages 30 - 40 meters with the water around 25 - 30°C.
The wreck dives have unfortunately become impenetrable over the past few years due to cyclone damage and a Crown of Thorn invasion destroyed some coral in the north, however the southern areas remain untouched.
Other marine life in Rarotonga includes humpback whales and their calves in season, 70 species of coral, moray eels, lion fish, turtles, maori wrasse, anemone fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, eagle rays, puffer fish and trumpet fish, to name a few.
In the north is the 18m Paradise site, is an 18 meter dive with excellent marine life. The west offers deeper coral dives, volcanic caves and wrecks such as the Maritime Reefer to explore. Exceptional drop-offs such as Sand River, The Gap and Matavera Drop Off open doors to large pelagic encounters.
The southern parts are a great challenge for advanced divers with their passageways and currents requiring much skill to navigate. It's not ideal for coral but is known for grey reef and white tip reef sharks and eagle ray sightings at Avaavaroa and Papua.
Atiu in the outer South is remote and unexplored. The island is volcanic and visually exhibits the results of interesting tectonic movements which contribute to its rugged cliff structures known as makatae.
South east of Rarotonga is Mangaia, one of the Pacific's older islands. Its dramatic volcanic landscape has left cliffs as high as 200ft. Many of Mangaia's limestone caves such as Tuatini, were used as burial chambers in which skeletons can still be seen during tours.
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