Sorry, the dive shop I used to dive with has been sold.  However, depending
on how much you like to dive, I recommend that you really shop around once
you get there.

For example, Cook Island Divers only had 2 dives a day.  One in the morning
and one in the afternoon.  If you like to dive two tanks a day, that leaves
a lot of wasted time.  If you are like me and like to dive 4 times a day . .
well, then, Cook Island Divers are not for you at all.  And there were a
number of shops that had that schedule and only a couple of shops that had
two tank morning dives.  Good luck with that and let us know when you come
back.

As for accommodations, what would you like?  Myself, I really liked
Shangri-la.  Nice self-sufficiency units with a big pool, on Muri Beach for
a decent price compared to most places.

I would strongly advise against a land-based accommodation to dive at
Rarotonga in French Polynesia.   The following was taken from a post
of mine in March 2004:

RF> We did a so-so dive in Huahine yesterday.  Only a few black
RF> tip sharks, several lionfish, anemoniefish of the NEMO kind,
RF> and assorted Pacific reef fish.

RF> The ship will be AT SEA all day today, heading to Rarotonga,
RF> Cook Islands.

RF> We'll be diving there for the first time;  then on the way back to
RF> Papeete,  we'll be diving in Raiatea, Bora Bora, and Moorea --
RF> all of which will be out repeat of last October.  Expect MUCH
RF> better dives there than Huahine, pronounced hu-ah-hin-nee,
RF> not a popular island, even in the Society Islands of French
RF> Polynesia.

It turned out that Rarotonga was the WORST of the five islands,
for diving.  This was what I had to say about the dive there:

RF> The dive itself was somewhat interesting but not particularly
RF> memorable.

RF> Because of the huge swell above and the pounding waves
RF> at shore, as far away as we were from shore, we could feel
RF> a strong surge even at 80-100 fsw.  The surge at 50 fsw
RF> was like the surge in Hawaii at 15 fsw!

RF> The visibility was great.  At least 100 feet in all directions
RF> as well as vertically down.  We saw only a few blacktip
RF> sharks and a  spotted eagle ray, some colorful puffers,
RF> such as the guinea fowl, but mostly "medium" Pacific fish
RF> otherwise.

Yes, that's a crummy dive, by French Polynesian standards.

RF> It's unlikely that I'll ever dived there again.  But I'll always
RF> be able to say, "Been there.  Done that."  :-)

chilly>  Me too.  :^)

who had spent 14 days diving from a land based operation
in Rarotonga.

The Cook Islands itinerary and the Marquasus itinerary are the
two main itineraries (10 day each) by the Princess cruise line.
Each will enable you to dive in at least five different islands,
all better than diving the Rarotonga.   So why waste all your time
diving at that one location?

-- Bob.