Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
Home · Contact Me · Sydney Reef Dive Sites · Sydney Shipwrecks · NSW Dive Sites · Australian Dive Sites · Overseas Dive Sites · Dive Accidents and Incidents · My Yachting Adventures · 4WD Trips · Weather · Search 10 November 2024 21:52
Navigation
Home

General
About Me
My Diving
FAQ
Downloads
Web Links - Dive Clubs
St George Scuba Club
Some of my Best Photos
Contact Me

Dive Sites
Sydney Reef Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwrecks
Sydney Dive Visibility, Swell and Temps
Kelly Talking on ABC Sydney about Shipwrecks
NSW Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwreck Summary
NSW Shipwreck GPS/Marks
Australian Dive Sites
Overseas Dive Sites
Aircraft I have Dived
Old Bottles
Free Shipwreck Books

Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
DIY Oxygen Stick - Nitrox
GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
GPS and Diving
Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
Dive Book Reviews
Site Map
Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
  • Login
    Username

    Password



    Forgotten your password?
    Request a new one here.
    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "Pygmy pipehorses can be seen at Bare Island at various places"
    Arbuthnotts
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Arbuthnotts Arbuthnotts is a dive site on Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It is located on the north east corner of the island. It is about a seven minute run from Avatui Harbour to this site in a fast dive boat. This dive site is located a few hundred metres off the shore. This section of the island does not really have a fringing reef like most of the rest of the 32 kilometres of the island's coast. The site's name comes from the owners of the two large houses on the shoreline, just north of the small bridge over the creek.

    You anchor in about eight metres on a sandy bottom with many small bommies. Just north of here there is a much larger sand patch which leads out to the reef edge. From the anchor, you follow the southern side of this sand patch as it gradually slopes till you hit the reef dropoff. The depth here is about 25 to 30 metres. From here the bottom slopes more steeply to 35 metres and then to much deeper. The reef winds in and out as it heads south. There are some canyons and gullies.

    White tip reef sharkGuineafowl moray eel
    White tipped reef sharkGuineafowl moray eel

    The coral here is probably the worst I have seen anywhere in the world (and I have dived in 10 countries with coral reefs). I estimated that there was less than 5% live coral. There was not a single sponge nor any gorgonias. Fishlife was also sparce.

    We saw two white tipped reef sharks, two guineafowl moray eels, heaps of black sea cucumbers and a few species of surgeonfish, triggerfish and other tropical species as well as one firefish. There were a few Moorish idols, short and long-finned bannerfish, long-nosed butterflyfish and even some very long-nosed butterflyfish (yes, this is really a species). All in all, not many fish, but at least there were some nice ones.

    After 20 to 25 minutes, you turn around and come back a little shallower than the outward trip. Once again, the coral is not very good and the fishlife poor.

    The one good thing about this dive was the visibility, in excess of 40 metres. Water temperature in June was 24.8° and air temperature 25°.

    For more information about the Cook Islands, especially Rarotonga, see my Cook Islands General Information Page.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!