Edna’s Anchor Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Site Overview
Dive Centres
Site Type: Scenic reef of hard corals
Depth: Top: 12M Bottom: 22M
Location: Opposite Trader Jacks in the old Avarua Harbou

The main attraction at lonely Edna’s anchor are the vibrantly coloured reef fish: flame angelfish, big blue triggerfish and colourful parrotfish.

Still, the dive site is named for the anchor of the schooner Edna, which remains stuck between coral bommies long after Edna sailed away and sank elsewhere!

The dive proceeds from about 12 m down to the anchor at 22m and back but it’s hardly a there-and-back-again dive.

Diver above the reef at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

The main area is thick with a diversity of marine life, from the big blue trigger that will come and seek you out, to the morays and damsels that you will need to seek out.

Blue Triggerfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

The sandy-patches to coral-cover ratio at Edna’s anchor scores high on sandy-patches.

Yellowstripe Goatfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

This is quite useful to get down to fish eye-level and see the reef as its inhabitants see it.

Scythe triggerfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

Threadfin and dot-dash butterflies are common, but there are also reticulated and chevron butterflyfish. The hard coral attracts parrotfish and there are scratch marks everywhere.

Parrotfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

As well as the convicts, you’ll find the mimic surgeon.

Mimic surgeonfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

There are damsels aplenty, and the light and clear water brings out their jewels quite nicely.

Jeweled Damsel at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

Hawkfish are prevalent too. They always give me that ‘here we go again’ look as I slowly approach … and the game begins … how close can you get.

Arc-eye Hawkfish at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

There are nudis too. And big ones like this Spanish dancer found on many of the dive sites around the Cooks.

Spanish dancer nudibranch at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

The anchor is a classic old iron anchor, and makes for the turnaround point of the dive. (Unless, because you happen to be in a world of your own like I was and missed it completely, it appears at the end of your dive if Sasha is kind enough to take you back to it).

Ednas Anchor at Ednas Anchor diving Rarotonga in the Cook Islands by Diveplanit

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