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Vava'u · Tonga · Reef

Lua Tofua'a

A submerged reef in 2-8 m with the ground falling to 25 m around it

Area photo: David Broad · CC BY 3.0

Lua Tofua'a is a submerged reef 0.2 nautical miles south-south-east of Longito'o Island, shallow enough on top to dive in 2 to 8 metres and ringed by a seabed that falls to between 14 and 25 metres. A few large coral formations stand up out of the reef, and amberjack, rock cod and Maori wrasse have all been recorded here.

Also known as Whale Reef, Lua Tofuaa.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Lua Tofua'a: typical dive 2–8 m (7–26 ft), deepest point 25 m (82 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit2 m8 m25 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

18.7330° S, 174.0845° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

The reef is an easy dinghy run from the Lape or Vaka'eitu anchorages and works at any state of the tide, so it fits around a day's sailing rather than around a boat schedule. Anchor in 3 to 8 metres on one of the bare spots in the centre of the reef, then start on the reef top, where the depth runs from 2 to 8 metres and a few large coral formations stand up out of the shallows.

Work outwards from the centre and the ground falls away: around the reef the depth ranges from 14 to 25 metres, so the perimeter is where the profile gets deep. Amberjack, rock cod and Maori wrasse have all been seen at the site. Come back up onto the reef top to finish — with most of the structure inside 8 metres, there is no reason to spend the last of the dive anywhere else.

Marine life and season

  • Trevally & jacks
  • Groupers
  • Napoleon wrasse
Month-by-month season rating for Lua Tofua'a
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFair

Season follows Vava'u: Humpback season runs July to October; the wet season from November to April brings more rain.

Questions divers ask

Can beginners dive Lua Tofua'a?+

Yes. The reef top runs from 2 to 8 metres and the site is reached by dinghy at any state of the tide. The ground around the reef drops to 25 metres, so keep an eye on your depth if you swim off the edge.

Sources

  1. Diving - Activities in Vava'u Islands, Tonga, South Pacific — Vava'u.to

In The Logbook

More dive sites in Vava'u

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to 20 mintermediate

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The Pagodas

Coral structures from 3 m down to the 18 m Open Water limit

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