Where to spend 3-8 weeks on a budget, and have easily accessible snorkeling

Hi everyone! I am excited to be a new member of your forum.

I am planning an extended vacation of 3-8 weeks for next summer, before I start graduate school. I'm a 22 year old guy and I have done a lot of snorkeling all over the carribean, but I have never been to the pacific. I have a passion for coral reefs, but also for all marine life.

I would like my destination to have affordable lodging and food. I've heard you can find very basic places for less than $30 (USD) per night. $30 would be great. $20 would be even better. I would also like to be able to get to good snorkeling spots relatively easily. I've heard many pacific areas have cheap transportation. And of course the snorkeling has to be within swimming distance of the beach, and the beach has to be within walking distance of wherever the bus or taxi will drop me off.

electricity and internet are necessary.

please suggest your best destination ideas! I am eager to hear them.

other questions- is there a chance that a tropical storm will ruin my vacation (it will be in april, may, or june)? how can i minimize the risk?

is there a possibility to incorporate cheap scuba trips into the vacation? I can get certified quite easily before next spring.

what about work exchange programs? any good ones in the pacific? I dont even know where to begin looking.

thank you.

Edited by: mako555

Rarotonga would be a good choice. Beachfront (or near beachfront) accommodation can be found for NZ$18 at Backpackers International in Kavera (close to the Aroa marine reserve), or at Vara's in Muri for NZ$25 per night (fronts onto Muri lagoon and handy to Tikioki marine reserve). Your budget at US$30 roughly converts to NZ$40. The Cook Islands currency is the Kiwi dollar. Rarotonga is a very clean, highly attractive, safe and easily accessible destination. You can swim and snorkle at most of the beaches around the island, depending on tide and breeze. Best spots to snorkle are in/around the marine reserves, and you can easily walk or take the bus from one locality to another. Muri lagoon has officially become a marine reserve, so expect to see more prolific fishlife in this locality. A coral reef located up to 1km from the shoreline encircles Rarotonga entirely. If you are interested in the marine environment then Raro is a good place to develop an academic interest.

There is a weekly direct flight from LAX to Rarotonga aboard Air NZ. Plenty of flights between Raro and Auckland and one weekly flight to/from Raro to Sydney. Rarotonga has a main ring road which is served by public bus. Hire scooters and cycles are also popular. No need for a taxi service, even to get from the airport to accommodation, many of the backpacker hostels collect their guests upon arrival. Quite a number of travellers move from one spot to another to take advantage of the surrounding attractions. There is a flashpacker hostel/hotel directly opposite the airport if you aren't sure where to base yourself but need accommodtion for the first 1/2 nights. Immigration will enquire where you are staying upon arrival. Visitor's Entry Permits are good for 31 days (you dont need a Visa), so long as you have adequate funds on hand and a return/departure flight pre-arranged you are good to go. To stay beyond 31 days you need to apply through immigration in town for an extension, and pay a little money too.

Plenty of internet access all around Raro through the WiFi hotspots, internet cafes and accommodation access. Electricty supply same as NZ and Australia. Bring an adapter. Dont worry about tropical storms, if they are likely to occur in the southern Cook Islands it's usually around December through to Marchwhen we receive the worst of it. Certainly nothing like the flooding that Fiji suffered. Anyway we have no major rivers that will block access to the international airport, or to any other accommodation but one small motel in town.

Ooh, and if you are keen on a little night-life as well, the hostels around Raro make their own fun when the guests aren't venturing out to the nite-clubs as a group activity. There are 2 pub-crawl buses that provide an awesome way to bar hop and check the action/attractions.

wow. i am totally blown away by how helpful your response is. thank you so much!

its a tough act to follow, but other suggestions will of course be considered and appreciated.

I overlooked to mention scuba-diving around Raro. There are several operators on the island, who undertake dive training and are PADI certified. This may be more cost-effective than undergoing certification before you travel. Have a look at the BigFish Dive Centre in Aroa (right opposite the Aroa marine reserve - say 400 metres from Backpackers International) and also Dive Rarotonga in Arorangi (again this place is located close to the marine reserve for the western lagoon, and handy to Are Renga motel and guesthouse). Both are PADI 5 star, who take their divers over the reef to the dropoffs, caves and shipwrecks.

What type of work-exchange program are you looking for? If you are interested in being a volunteer for marine and avian conservation in the Cook Islands you could contact one of the conservation NGO's based on Rarotonga including Te Ipukarea Society or the Takitumu Conservation Area (endngered bird program), or the Cook Islands Heritage Trust.

What is your total budget? You have to take into account the expensive plane ticket.