Savai'i & Upolu · Samoa · Coral garden
Apolima Gardens
Coral garden off Apolima Island, dropping from 8 m to 40 m
Area photo: NASA *uploaded by Teinesavaii · Public domain
Apolima Gardens is a coral garden lying just 70 m off Apolima Island, between Upolu and Savai'i. The site starts at 8 m and drops off to 40 m, and the colourful coral is home to reef sharks, sea turtles and bluefin trevally. Visits are by boat and by invitation only.
Also known as Apolima.
Where it is and how deep
13.8239° S, 172.1512° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive begins at 8 m on the coral garden, a short swim from the shore of Apolima Island, and the bottom then drops off to 40 m. Lobsters and unicorn fish live among the coral, with reef sharks, bluefin trevally and sea turtles also recorded here.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Savai'i & Upolu: May–Oct is the dry season with the calmest water and humpbacks Jul–Oct; Nov–Apr brings rain and cyclone risk.
Sources
- Samoa Diving — TravelOnline
- xray-mag.com — xray-mag.com
- Apolima (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
More dive sites in Savai'i & Upolu
Coral garden in the Apia lagoon with a shark-patrolled outer wall
Similar dives elsewhere
Coral garden with sharks, turtles and barracuda, to 29 m
An 8 m coral garden dived mainly after dark
Coral garden
Fa'a Miti
Huahine · French Polynesia
Yellow goatfish and paddletail snappers over a coral garden
Coral garden
Miri Miri Ocean
Raiatea & Taha'a · French Polynesia
Blacktip sharks over a calm, shallow coral garden