It's hard to put into words how amazing the Aitutaki Lagoon is. It is absolutely stunning and overflowing with marine life. We went on a day cruise with Aitutaki Adventures. The main activity during this cruise is snorkeling because the lagoon is full of tropical fish & coral formations. The water is crystal clear and the sea floor is sandy. Pick up was around 9am and we got back around 6pm. To enjoy the lagoon experience you should bring the following with you: sunscreen, beach towel, mosquito spray, coconut & postcard & passport (see below), reef shoes and your snorkel equipment (if you have your own). Snorkel equipment is provided, but if you prefer to bring you own, I suggest you do.
This is how our day on the lagoon went:
1st stop - snorkeling in shallow water (knee & waste deep) with slow drop offs where we saw lots of fish, giant clams, corral & marine life. This is a great stop for everyone, but kids and people who are not experienced swimmers will love it because it is shallow. If you are more experienced and know how to snorkel like a pro you can venture off a little farther where you have no footing and see more exotic and rare fish.
2nd stop - Honeymoon Island: where we saw nesting red-tailed fern birds, had a chance to see the wedding crest & if you bring a coconut with you can plant it there. The island is beautiful and the sand is so soft under you feet. You can find some great seashells along the shore that have been dried by the sun, so they are white in color. The lagoon is shallow with dunes of sand jetting out everywhere you look. It's a great spot for pictures.
3rd stop - One Foot Island: we had a chance to snorkel some more until the lunch was ready. Lunch tasted delicious and included Tuna cooked on the BBQ, taro, plantains, potato salad, sea grapes, chef salad, coconut, papaya & lot's more. After lunch we had some time to explore the island and get our passports stamped & send a postcard at the post office.
4th stop - snorkeling in deeper water (shoulder deep) with slow drop offs where we say bigger types of fish and lot's of big schools of tropical underwater life! This island has more to see. I recommend you explore the black volcanic rock formations that jet out towards the lagoon.
Taking a cruise is the best way to see and experience the Lagoon. You should go at the beginning of your stay on Aitutaki, because you will certainly want to go back again before your stay is over. There are many tour operators to choose from but from what we saw & heard: they are all great, and follow (almost) the same course during the trip, so no mater which one you choose, you will have almost the same experience and at a similar price.
