Upolu

Samoa

About 70 metres from the prehistorically rugged sheer cliffs of Apolima Island, we plunge into a wonderland of colour and life. Appropriately named, we are dropped into a coral garden that begins at about 8metres. As we follow the reef, it is possible to go to a depth of 40metres, but unless you have done this dive many times there is really no need as there is so much to see between 10 and 20 metres. Large table corals screen the lobsters hiding beneath but their position is given away to the alert diver by their antennae. Rainbow runners, unicorn fish, turtles, napoleon, reef sharks and blue fin trevally are a staple of this dive. With so many routes to take along the reef you can do this dive again and again and see something new each time. 

Apolina island.

Apolima Gardens is also known as Apolima Drift.

Apai

Apolima Gardens



South side of Upolu island, just north of Aganoa beach

The Aquarium

Exciting swim throughs, massive overhangs, winding tunnels and huge coral bommies set the scene for a really satisfying dive.

Beginning on the inside of the reef system we literally make our way through the reef to the outer face and the darkening depths before winding back to the shallows amid throngs of reef fish and amazing coral. Eagle rays and white tips can sometimes be seen but keep an eye out for the critters on this one.

Whip coral shrimps and Bubble Coral Orangutan Crabs are just two of the many special subjects for the Macro photographer here.



J-Caves

This is the grand canyon of Ha'apai.  This site is unique for its topography, which consists of huge overhangs, some stretching for over 50m.

For the majority of the dive the overhangs sit either side of you as they adorn both sides of a long sandy channel.  Underneath you will find Lobsters, an incredible array of whip coral shrimps, a number of Lionfish, Sea fans, Sweetlips and Nudibranchs.  

Cruising along the sandy channel you will often see Eagle Rays, Large skools of Unicorn Fish, large Groupers, Napoleon wrasse and the occasional Leopard Shark.



Faleanga

As the name suggests this site is famous for its beautiful array of soft corals.  We like to dive this site with a little current as the soft corals come out to feed. 

You will find many overhangs to explore with Lobsters, Whip coral shrimp, Banded coral shrimps, Lionfish and Sea Fans underneath.

Many different types of Nudibranch,   Butterfly fish, Angel Fish, Wrasse, Parrotfish and Unicorn fish also make up the abundance of life on the top of the reef.  White tips reef sharks and Batfish are also found a little deeper.



Soft Rock

Stretching to the edge of Ha'ano itself, the corner offers a little bit of everything.  The dive starts shallow, but quickly drops of around the end of the reef usually to a depth of around 30m.  Often at this point huge skools of Tuna greet you.  These graceful fish look like they are flying in squadrons, with the largest of the skool taking the front position and often measuring 2m in length.

The dive then continues back towards the island along a sloping reef that drops to 50m+, often looking out into the blue you can spot more Tunas, Giant Barracudas and the occasional Grey Reef Shark.  The slope itself has a huge variety of Butterfly fish, Coral trouts, Wrasse, Fusiliers and Angel Fish.  Hidden between the rocks you can find Moray Eels, Nudibranchs and Lion Fish 

At the end of the slope you cross the sandy channel to a shallower depth of around 16m, where you can enjoy a number of Swim throughs, which adorn large Gorgonian fans and some beautiful hard corals. In 2008 we had some great Whale encounters here - including one on Scuba!



The Corner

Without doubt the aquarium of Ha'apai. This beautiful seamount has a reef top that sits at 5m and drops to 70m either side.  Reef fish gather here in huge numbers with various types of Fusiliers skooling in there thousands. 

Large skools of Black snapper, Unicorn fish and Big Tuna also cruise the blue along with Sharks and Barracuda.  Trumpet fish, Filefish, Longtoms, Sweetlips, Coral trouts and Large puffer fish all inhabit the reef, along with the numberless others!

The coral gardens here are beautiful with many different species hidden away.  You will often find Octopus, Moray eels, Little crabs and Shrimps, making it an ideal spot for spotting little critters as well as larger fish.



Akoteu

A leisurely dive around a large number of coral bommies which attract Nudibranchs, Pipefish, large numbers of Goatfish and Eagle rays along with the usual reef fish you expect to find gracing a tropical reef in the Pacific. Inga'a also boasts some beautiful shallow swim throughs, where you can spot bull rays and Lionfish.

There are also some fascinating garden eels, which number in there thousands all along the sand that lye between each coral bommie and an incredible array of beautiful caverns!



Inga's

The Lafa Lafa group comprises a series of four, distinct submerged seamounts. Being offshore and slightly exposed to prevailing currents they attract many of the larger species that divers want to see.

Sharks, Rays and Turtles are not uncommon but may be difficult to sight through the profusion of schooling fish belonging to the Snapper, Parrotfish and Grouper families. 

Transient pelagics including Great Barracuda and Dogtooth Tuna scathe the mount facades ever alert for an unsuspecting meal. Watch the small reef fish dive for cover as the open water predators make their periodic lunges.

The standard of coral health on the Lafa Lafa group, 3 and 4 in particular, is unparalled in the entire Kingdom of Tonga and these dives deserve real recognition.

In 2008 we had several scuba encounters with Humpbacks here!



Lafa Lafa 1

Named for the two medium-sized pinnacles that grace this spot, the sister can hod any number of surprises.  On the landward side, the dive site is relatively shallow (around 15m), but drops dramatically to 80m+ on the seaward side.  Large skools of Fusiliers swim in the blue and a large variety of Basslets grace the top reef in big numbers.

The drop off on each seaward side of the two seamounts can be home to pelagic life as well as Trigger fish, Trumpet Fish, Sweetlips, Coral trouts, Banded sea snakes, Moray eels, Giant Clams and a large number of Damsels.  The top of both pinnacles is where critter hunters can find Leaf Scorpion fish, Scribbled pipefish, Crabs and a large number Nudibranchs.



Sisters

"Usually good visibility. Large schools of small tropicals, healthy hard corals, clams, regular sightings of white tip reef sharks. Currents usually mild. Depth: 40-70'." Source Qamea Resort



Apolima Gardens

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Apolima Gardens