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 The Lagoon Cruise I got up early the next morning to take a cruise across Aitutaki's breathtaking lagoon. The lagoon is about 10 miles across and fairly shallow, with an average depth of only about 15 feet or so, and it's ringed by a dozen or so motu (small islands) that comprise the Aitutaki atoll. A lagoon cruise is a real "must" for any visitor to Aitutaki, and so far it's been the highlight of my trip to the Cook Islands. Several boats go out to the lagoon each day but I opted for the "party boat," a 55-foot long pontoon craft called the Titi-ai-tonga (no jokes, please). It's a six-hour trip all the way across the lagoon and back, and it's a real blast.
For only $20, you get a transfer to and from your lodging, the six-hour boat ride, a BBQ chicken buffet lunch onboard, stops on a couple of motu, and free use of their snorkeling gear. Snorkeling among the coral reefs is interesting and I spotted several huge clams, each over three feet across. I hadn't gone snorkeling in six years since my last visit to the Florida Keys and had a great time. During my swim, something bit me on the foot, which scared the crap out of me. But then I realized it was just a tiny, black fish apparently defending his turf.
Interestingly, after several hours on the boat no one had collected my fare. I could've done the whole ride for free but wouldn't have felt good about it, so I asked a crewman who I should pay. "Oh, you can pay me," he said casually. As I discovered, this laid-back attitude is typical in the Cook Islands. This definitely wasn't America.
Above left: Heading out into the Aitutaki lagoon. And yes, the water really is that color. Above right: Back on board the Titi for a barbeque lunch after an hour of snorkeling.
Above left: Heading towards One-Foot Island after lunch. Above right: We spent a couple hours on One-Foot Island (another deserted motu), did some more snorkeling and played volleyball.
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