Photos of Aitutaki Lagoon show some of the 14 uninhabited motus (islets) on the
protective barrier reef surrounding
the Aitutaki Lagoon. The Aitutaki uninhabited coral islets offers some of the
best beach holidays in the
world. Locals and tourists frequent motus for day trips. Motus
are privately owned and only locals are permitted to camp on them as the
do when charter flights of Aitutakians return from New Zealand. Motu Akitua near the south eastern end of the US army build
aeroplane runway has a resort which I used to relief manage when my
yachts operated from this 15th islet. Snorkelling in Aitutaki Lagoon's
protected water will reveal a multitude of living coral and
spectacularly colored tropical fish coral living fish. To get
full enjoyment out of snorkeling it is VERY important to understand
"Ben's Law of Lagoon Turbidity". While the Aitutaki lagoon is calm the
prevailing south east trade winds do build a small swell which after a
couple of days is enough to stir sediments on the leeward side of the
Aitutaki island. On these days snorkeling gets better the closer you
get to the windward side of the reef, including just inside the Aitutaki
barrier reef. One Foot Island, and Motu Maina southern reef side of
Aitutaki Island are fine with the South East Trade winds. This wind
direction is good for standing on the northern reef of Aitutaki casting
a wind assisted fishing lure. In the wet season wind / swell directions
are less predictable. A northerly wind means that snorkeling the
Aitutaki barrier reef near the western end of the runway is clear
visibility (low turbidity) while surf casting (fishing) from the reef is wind
assisted on the southern barrier reef where the big trevalli GTs swim.
I could never understand why some tourists would fly to Rarotonga; then fly to enjoy Aitutaki but miss out on the best thing of
Aitutaki: it's lagoon. Visitor from Bora Bora,
French Polynesia's geological version of the "almost
atoll" of Aitutaki
told me that Aitutaki's lagoon was just as nice but that Aitutakians
were more friendly and prices were much cheaper than at Bora Bora.
Check Activities for things to do such as SCUBA diving,exploring the enchanted Chestnut forest, game fishing or climbing Munga Poo.
Polynesians of Aitutaki are friendly and hospitable. Many Aitutakians still lead a subsistence life style with a small supplementary income from the tourism industry. Remittances from New Zealand and Australia supplements incomes too. When I lived on Aitutaki I saw the collapse of the banana growing industry and development of tourism; income from which helps Cook Islands form of Polynesian culture to continue. Hula dancing still thrives with Aitutaki winning many national cultural competitions at the capital city of the Cook Islands: Rarotonga. independent country of the Cook Islands. My favorite Cook Island music is the "Drum Dance" Total immersive fun dancing with beautiful seductive hula girls wearing grass skirts, coconut shell bra, flower necklace and flower crowns, while a well muscled Aitutakian drumming team beat out a fantastic rhythm from their authentic pig skin and hand carved wooden drums.