Bubbles Below
Bubbles Below
4.5
Scuba & SnorkellingBoat ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale Watching
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 1:45 PM
Sunday
Closed
Full view
About
Bubbles Below is now located down the main town of Arutanga & situated right beside the main wharf. we have a range of products for sale including Tshirts, Reef shoes, Spearguns & accessories, Mask & snorkel sets & Torches. Call us for your next dive adventure Also selling Hot Espresso coffee etc.
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
216 reviews
Excellent
168
Very good
24
Average
4
Poor
6
Terrible
14
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EL
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Solo
Had a great experience whale watching with the Bubbles Below crew! We saw whales breaching and diving, then when there was little signs of more whales, our skipper dropped us to a snorkeling area. Thankfully, later on, we found mums with their calves and were able to swim with them! Still in awe. My guide took footage and made me feel very safe in the water and around the whales. Highly recommend. I’m honestly tempted to go again.
Also the Bubbles 2 Go cafe has great, Melbourne-standard coffee (iykyk).
Also the Bubbles 2 Go cafe has great, Melbourne-standard coffee (iykyk).
Written 26 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel3116
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand2 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
Thank you Bubbles Below for an amazing experience!! We had our own snorkels and they leant us flippers each. We went out on the first tour for the whale swim and saw some whales breaching! They were travelling so didn't get an opportunity at that stage to swim in the water near them, but we were taken to a reef to do some snorkeling and have a look around. We were then taken to a different spot to try to find some whales, but they weren't around at that time, so we were given the opportunity to snorkel around the reef again which was beautiful! The visibility was awesome!
As we didn't get an opportunity to swim with the whales in the morning as they were travelling through, we were offered another trip in the afternoon which we took. On the second trip we were able to jump in the water with Mum and calf three times and each time it was totally incredible!! A totally mind blowing experience and one we will never forget!!
The safety briefing was good, giving us clear instructions about what to do when in the water with the whales and I loved how we weren't interfering with the whales or their travels in any way and kept a safe distance from them so they felt safe and were relaxed.
We knew when we booked, that there was a chance we might not get an opportunity to be in the water with the whales as it is nature and nature isn't always predicable, but were super stoked to be given another opportunity in the afternoon with another tour to go out.
Thank you team for an incredible experience! We look forward to doing it again some day!!
As we didn't get an opportunity to swim with the whales in the morning as they were travelling through, we were offered another trip in the afternoon which we took. On the second trip we were able to jump in the water with Mum and calf three times and each time it was totally incredible!! A totally mind blowing experience and one we will never forget!!
The safety briefing was good, giving us clear instructions about what to do when in the water with the whales and I loved how we weren't interfering with the whales or their travels in any way and kept a safe distance from them so they felt safe and were relaxed.
We knew when we booked, that there was a chance we might not get an opportunity to be in the water with the whales as it is nature and nature isn't always predicable, but were super stoked to be given another opportunity in the afternoon with another tour to go out.
Thank you team for an incredible experience! We look forward to doing it again some day!!
Written 24 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chad Mckelvie
Foxton, New Zealand8 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
The team were really easy to deal with, we did 4 dives with them. Got to see turtles, eagle rays, lion fish and plenty of tropical reef fish( only 1 reef shark unfortunately) they knew what they were doing. We had a small issue with 1 guy running low on air, but the guide had him with him and got him back safely.
Written 16 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Getaway61790937462
1 contribution
May 2024 • Family
Extremely well setup boat, friendly helpful owner and crew. I dived and my wife snorkelled. Both great even though the vis was not as good as it gets. The boat safety and dive briefings were clear and professional. The little things make a difference: 2L bottles of water were warmed in the sun and available for a rinse off. When we got back to the Bubbles Café we were treated to toasted sandwiches with our coffee. Very impressed!
Written 31 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andrea m
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
Today we went on the whale swimming tour. All the guys on the team were amazing and helpful!!! It was an incredible experience!!! We swam with mom and son. An experience that I absolutely recommend to anyone who comes to Aitutaki.
Written 4 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim W
2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Before we booked our flight to Aitutaki we emailed Bubbles to check that scuba would be available in September. They confirmed that we could scuba dive with them.
But when we got here we found that scuba is not available with Bubbles and they are the only place offering scuba. We got some conflicting stories: there is only one man in the boat and he needs another to do scuba, they need a party of 6 to go diving but they could take us (2) on a private charter for $1000, whale watching is more popular and can be done by one man so that is all he is doing now.
Whatever. If scuba is not available they should not be advertising it. And they should have given us the full story when we first enquired.
But when we got here we found that scuba is not available with Bubbles and they are the only place offering scuba. We got some conflicting stories: there is only one man in the boat and he needs another to do scuba, they need a party of 6 to go diving but they could take us (2) on a private charter for $1000, whale watching is more popular and can be done by one man so that is all he is doing now.
Whatever. If scuba is not available they should not be advertising it. And they should have given us the full story when we first enquired.
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hannar
7 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
I am very disappointed with this business. I emailed the owner in May to confirm that we could scuba dive in September. When we arrived in Aitutaki we were advised by the owner that there was no scuba diving unless there was a minimum of 6 people, or we could do a private charter which cost > $1000. This was despite their website still advertising diving as an activity. There is no mention of a minimum. I'd advise anyone wanting to dive at Aitutaki to be very cautious if you are relying on Bubbles Below. This is really unfortunate and should not detract from the other professional and friendly tourism operators there are on the island.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meikeb1975
Cologne, Germany21 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Even if the diving center doesn't offer a pick-up from the hotel, it's highly recommended. Everything was already assembled on the boat, so you could enjoy the boat trip through the lagoon. The equipment is perfect, the divemaster and the captain also carried out a safety check on each diver and took us to beautiful diving spots.
In between there was hot chocolate and cookies, and at the end there were delicious toasts in the small café that belongs to the diving center. They are a really friendly team, I would come back anytime!
In between there was hot chocolate and cookies, and at the end there were delicious toasts in the small café that belongs to the diving center. They are a really friendly team, I would come back anytime!
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nadine K
Sydney, Australia3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
My husband and I decided very last minute, 3 days before we arrived in the cook Islands that we would add Aitutaki to our destination for one day only, on the provision we could swim with whales. To make this happen, we emailed with hardly any notice asking below bubbles with they could run a private charter... they replied with speed, organised airport pick-up through another company and we booked our tickets..we didn't even know if we would see whales as it was late in the season (last week of october).
Not only upon pick up from the airport did we get told that the boss was waiting for us in the ocean with whales. When we arrived we got the gear, hopped on the boat..went straight to the whales and for 2 hours we spent swimming with these amazing creatures.
Best experience of our lives..so majestic the whales were, so close and the baby was so playful.
All the staff at below Bubbles were amazing. From booking to the swim to the Cafe staff. We loved every moment..
Not only upon pick up from the airport did we get told that the boss was waiting for us in the ocean with whales. When we arrived we got the gear, hopped on the boat..went straight to the whales and for 2 hours we spent swimming with these amazing creatures.
Best experience of our lives..so majestic the whales were, so close and the baby was so playful.
All the staff at below Bubbles were amazing. From booking to the swim to the Cafe staff. We loved every moment..
Written 26 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah and Rob
1 contribution
Oct 2022
We had the most fantastic experience with Onu and his team.
We had booked a morning whale spotting trip and the whales were being incredibly shy. Although we spotted from a distance it was very hard to find a time where a swim close by was possible.
Onu was clearly as disappointed as we all were and went out of his way to make sure we snorkelled with turtles and eagle rays instead.
However, as his afternoon trip was not full he offered a second opportunity to have the whale experience.
In the afternoon we managed to get into the water several times with three whales.
Onu was careful and considerate not to chase or harass the whales. His respect was noted.
His generosity and care is unusual and we cannot rate our experience with Bubbles Below highly enough.
Thanks Team.
We had booked a morning whale spotting trip and the whales were being incredibly shy. Although we spotted from a distance it was very hard to find a time where a swim close by was possible.
Onu was clearly as disappointed as we all were and went out of his way to make sure we snorkelled with turtles and eagle rays instead.
However, as his afternoon trip was not full he offered a second opportunity to have the whale experience.
In the afternoon we managed to get into the water several times with three whales.
Onu was careful and considerate not to chase or harass the whales. His respect was noted.
His generosity and care is unusual and we cannot rate our experience with Bubbles Below highly enough.
Thanks Team.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I'm travelling over to Aitutaki March 21st for a week. Will you have availability to scuba/snorkel?
Written 10 March 2020
HI to all at Bubbles Below
We hope to be in Aitutaki late August - do you ever get the chance to see Manta Rays?
Thanks
K
Written 15 July 2019
Hi Onu, My husband and I coming for a few days to your island 17-22nd October and would love to go snorkeling and maybe diving (I don't have a certificate) with you. Do we have to book in advance or just show up at your door.
Please let us know
Monika & Rob
New Zealand
Written 4 October 2017
Gidday. I'm staying at Etu Moana from 28th December to 1st January this year. I'd love a day diving if conditions are right. Will you be operating or closed for the holidays? I have advanced certification but have only done 20 dives and am not that experienced. But I just love it under the water. Any chance I can go out diving with you?
Written 17 October 2016
Kia Orana sorry I didnt realise that you could ask questions on Tripadvisor, yes if conditions are fine then we can take you out for a dive
Please contact me on arrival to Aitutaki
regards
Onu
Written 23 November 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.