Aitutaki - Gap year opportunities in Paradise

Home

Research

Aitutaki is a stunningly beautful lagoon located in the tropical South Pacific. This friendly island is home to 1500 residents who all share a strong connection with the ocean.

Aitutaki Lagoon with Akaiami marked - Google Earth

The people of Aitutaki all live on the main island in rural villages spread evenly throughout. Many local crops are grown, with taro, banana, maniota and paw paw being common.

People also spend a lot of time fishing, both in the lagoon and on reef. Sea food is a significant part of the local diet with fish being caught both in and outside the lagoon.

This island has been made famous as the set for movies and tv shows, with the UK series Shipwrecked filming their first season here. Survivor was also filmed exclusively on the beautiful Aitutaki Lagoon for their Survivor Cook Islands season.

The Aitutaki Lagoon Monitoring Project has it's base on the motu (small island) of Akaiami. The project is housed in Akaiami Lodge, a basic homestead on a stunning deserted beach. Each day volunteers will awaken to the long shadows of the Coconut palms extending out over the crystal water and in the evening, watch the sun set off the beach with the golden hues reflected in the water.


Images of Akaiami Lodge location at Akaiami motu, Aitutaki lagoon

Duration :

3 weeks to 5 weeks depending on the expedition

Expedition Type :

Marine survey using snorkel and scuba

Location :

Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Fly to :

Autitaki, Cook Islands via Rarotonga Cook Islands.

Expedition dates :

We are currently in the process of developing an expedition schedule for late 2016 and beyond.

We are making some changes and improvements to the programme including building a new boat and upgrading the accommodation choice.

Cost :

3 week expedition : NZ$1950

Whats included :

All accomodation and meals* for the duration of the expedition

All scuba equipment required for diving

Training in marine survey techniques

All transfers to and from the airport and the accommodation lodge in Akaiami

Daily survey dives and snorkelling

Lodge style accommodation on Akaiami Motu

Weekly opportunities for community engagement

*Social meals away from the expedition base not included

Contact :

Ph +682 22450
Our office is on Cook Islands Time CKT GMT-10

expeditions@picionline.org

Available for Skype calls on request

The Aitutaki Lagoon Monitoring Project is a project of the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative. PICI is a Non-Profit organisation based in the Cook Islands working in areas of environmental research, conservation and education. Our philosophy is that for conservation to work it must be driven by the local communities that live in these remote islands. To that end the Aitutaki Lagoon Monitoring Project intends to use science to develop a long term data set to assist with the management of the Aitutaki Lagoon by the people of the island.