Day 1: The Journey Begins
The adventure started with a rainy drive to the airport. A few near misses on the road made it exciting, but I eventually arrived at the airport, ready to go. The first flight was delayed, and turbulence made the trip a bit rough, but I finally arrived at Rarotonga late at night. The overnight layover in the domestic terminal was a long, windy wait, but I passed the time exploring the airport area and walking a few kilometers up the road.
Day 2: Settling In and Meeting the Group
Stephen met me at the airport, and I settled into my simple but comfortable room. The wind was still strong, but it kept things cool. I caught up with the rest of the group—seven of us in total. After some island exploration and a quick swim in front of the accommodation, I ended the day with a refreshing dip in the pool. Sunday night group dinner marked the real beginning of the adventure.
Day 3: The First Adventure Swim
After a relaxing evening barbecue at Steve and Richard’s bungalows, I got a good night’s rest despite the constant wind. My morning began with a 5km run, followed by a visit to the local snorkel spot—clear, shallow water perfect for beginners, though the glare was tough for me. The sea’s high salt content made floating effortless. We spent the afternoon on a scenic drive around the island before gearing up for the next day’s swim.
Day 4: Wet and Wild Tour
This day kicked off with an incredible adventure. After a big tuna steak dinner the night before, we set off on a high-speed boat ride to One Foot Island. The 35-knot zigzagging through coral felt like an action movie. Our first swim was a challenging 2km across deeper water with choppy conditions. After a delicious tuna BBQ on Honeymoon Island, we swam in calmer waters, surrounded by kite surfers. The highlight of the day was seeing the huge anchor by the One Foot Island post office, a relic from World War II.
Day 5: The First Ocean Swim
Today’s adventure was our first swim outside the reef in a two-foot chop. Some of the more experienced swimmers loved it, while the pool swimmers found it tough. We ended up swimming near Honeymoon Island again, where we encountered huge Mahimahi fish. The 2km swim was followed by some free diving around giant clams, which were over 100 years old! A late lunch and a 1.6km channel swim rounded off the day before we headed back to camp for dinner at the boathouse.
Day 6: Whale Watching and Reef Swim
Whale watching day! The boat took us outside the reef in calm seas, but after two hours of searching, we hadn’t spotted anything. Just when we thought we’d struck out, another boat found three whales. We raced over to join them, and soon enough, we were swimming alongside these magnificent creatures. It was surreal seeing them so close. The afternoon was spent biking around the island, ticking off roads I hadn’t yet explored. We ended the day with a cultural dinner, complete with dancing and drums.
Day 7: Final Swim Day
Our last full day of swimming started with a 900m swim along the reef, followed by another 2km swim in crystal-clear water. I spotted a turtle and spent time watching it swim gracefully along the reef. After another great lunch, we had our final swim around the purple coral, a mesmerizing spot filled with thousands of colorful fish. As we headed back to camp for dinner, I reflected on the incredible week I’d had and the fantastic people I’d met.
Day 8: Farewell to the Island
My final morning started with one last beach run along the airport. Although I was tired from a week of running, biking, and swimming, the island’s beauty kept me going. After checking out of my room, I spent the rest of the day exploring the marine research center, where I saw giant clams being cultivated. I even had time for a windsurfing session before heading to the airport to catch my flight. It was sad to leave, but I knew I’d be back for another adventure someday.