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Papua Passage

The passage at the dive site is traditionally known as Avaiti. You will start your dive on the outer coral reef and make your way through the passage into the lagoon. Avaiti is considered the shallowest and shortest among the south-coast passages, offering a unique diving experience with its steep walls, swim-throughs, and light-filled caverns.

Divers frequently encounter turtles and whitetip reef sharks in this area. Additionally, the site is home to a curious group of giant resident star puffer fish. The fish life here is vibrant and diverse, thanks to the presence of strong currents that enhance the underwater ecosystem.

Avaiti is an ideal dive spot for both beginner and advanced divers. With a maximum depth of 18 meters and good visibility of 20 meters, divers of all levels will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful dive site in the Cook Islands. Located near Ara Tapu, Takitumu, Rarotonga, the site offers convenient access for divers eager to explore the underwater wonders of the Cook Islands.

Please note that the provided data is not to be included in the output.

Diving Conditions Score for Papua Passage

5.7
Average

Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Papua Passage

Depth

18m

Visibility

20m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced

Weather Conditions for Papua Passage

Wave Height

2.16m

Wind Speed

21 m/s

Water Temp

24.7°C

Visibility

13km

Cloud Cover

13%

Wave Period

9.6s

Air Temperature

23°C

Precipitation

0.1 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Papua Passage
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Papua Passage

Best time to dive: 17:00 with score 5.805633333333334/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.98m, Wind 14.7 m/s.Best night dive time: 23:00 with score 5.620766666666667/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Papua Passage: 06:00
Sunset at Papua Passage: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Papua Passage are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
17:00

Score: 5.8/10
Waves: 1.98m (9.8s), Wind: 14.7 m/s

🌙
Best Night
23:00

Score: 5.6/10
Waves: 1.96m, Wind: 6.6 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Papua Passage
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Papua Passage

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for Papua Passage

Summer

Avg. Score: 9.3/10

Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.

Best Months for Papua Passage

June
Score: 9.5
July
Score: 9.4
May
Score: 9.2

Ideal Conditions for Papua Passage

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

25.4°C / 77.7°F

May

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

11.8m / 38.7ft

November

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

2.1m / 6.9ft

March

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Papua Passage

Papua Passage follows southern hemisphere patterns with May being the warmest month (25.4°C) and November the coldest (19.7°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in March with average wave heights of 2.1m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in March with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). November is usually the driest month with 0.2mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during March to May, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 23, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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