DIVE
Tonga is a little-known nation but the fact is that it has 170 islands, five island groups and hundreds of attractions and activities. So where do you begin to whittle down the things that you should do in Tonga? Well, a good place to start is with this list of must-dos in Tonga listing The Kindom’s stand-out experiences. From here, you will be linked to more must-dos in the island group you’re visiting, as well as more information on the top experiences in Tonga.
EXPLORE TONGA'S UNDERWATER WORLD
THE BEST TIME TO DIVE IN TONGA
There are only two seasons in Tonga; summer and winter. The difference in diving conditions between the two seasons is often minimal. This makes Tonga the ideal destination to scuba dive all throughout the year.
In winter, the air temperatures are typically 19-29°C (66-84°F) and sea temperatures are around 21°C (69°F). In summer, the air temperatures are typically 23-31°C (74-88°F) and sea temperatures are around 24°C (75°F).
Diving during Winter: Winter season in Tonga is from May to November. However winter in Tonga is not like any typical wintery season with sea temperatures being around 21°C (69°F) and air temperatures between 19 and 29°C (66-84°F). You will probably need a 5mm full length wetsuit along with a warm layer for boat rides after getting out of the water. If you want to swim with humpback whales, then winter is the best season to go swimming with humpback whales. Whales can only be found in Tonga’s waters between July and October (with a little more of an extended season in Tongatapu and ‘Eua). Finally, another advantage of diving in the winter season is that all of the dive operators are open. Some operators, especially in Vava’u, are known to close shop for the summer, giving you fewer options.
Summer diving in Tonga: Summer in Tonga runs from December to April and is also known as the wet season. This time is usually hotter and more humid in Tonga, making scuba diving a pretty relieving experience from the heat. Sea temperatures are typically around 24°C (75°F), while air temperatures are between 23 and 31°C (74-88°F). A 3mm full-length or a shortie wetsuit is usually suitable for these months. An advantage of a scuba diving trip in summer in Tonga is that it’s the tourist low season. This means that you can often find yourself in resorts with little to no one around, discounts on accommodations and sometimes even flights, and having entire dive sites to yourself (and your buddy and dive instructor, of course).
SWIMMING WITH WHALES
Holiday makers are not the only ones to return to Tonga’s shores on a regular basis. After a long journey north from the icy krill-laden depths of Antarctica, southern humpback whales take shelter in the tropical reef-protected waters of Tonga to give birth to their young.
The arrival of the whales from July to October completes a remarkable cycle, as the new calves return to where they were conceived 11 months earlier. The high number of whales visiting Tongan waters at this time of year means there are plenty of opportunities to see and swim with them.
Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can still swim with the whales. As most of the whales are mothers with calves, our operators take great care not to intrude too heavily on these wild animals.
WHAT TO SEE WHEN DIVING IN TONGA
Tonga has a diverse marine life. It is estimated that there are around 1500 species of fish and 700 species of corals in Tonga’s water alone. However there are certainly more common species to see in Tonga’s tropical waters, from the tiniest nudibranchs to the largest whales.
Whales in Tonga: One of the highlights of Tonga’s waters is the humpback whales that migrate to Tonga between June and October. Snorkelling with the whales is a popular and regulated activity in Tonga.
Fish, Turtles and Sharks in Tonga: Reefs in Tonga are home to a gargantuan variety of species such as barracuda, butterfly fish, clown fish, tuna, mantarays, etc.
Corals in Tonga: Dives in Tonga often feature amazing coral formations with a variety of hard and soft coral to admire as well as sea fans.
DIVING OPERATORS IN TONGA
Holiday makers are not the only ones to return to Tonga’s shores on a regular basis. After a long journey north from the icy krill-laden depths of Antarctica, southern humpback whales take shelter in the tropical reef-protected waters of Tonga to give birth to their young.
The arrival of the whales from July to October completes a remarkable cycle, as the new calves return to where they were conceived 11 months earlier. The high number of whales visiting Tongan waters at this time of year means there are plenty of opportunities to see and swim with them.
Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can still swim with the whales. As most of the whales are mothers with calves, our operators take great care not to intrude too heavily on these wild animals.
Click here to see a list of Tonga’s Diving operators
TIPS FOR DIVING IN TONGA
- There is never a bad season for diving in Tonga: Tonga’s water temperatures (and air temperatures, for that matter) are consistently warm all year round, as is the water visibility typically at around 30m (100ft). With that in mind, there is never really a bad time to scuba dive in Tonga. Minor differences between the winter and summer seasons in Tonga is that some of the dive operators in Vava’u close for the quiet summer season, so you might not get your first choice in operator.
- Good time for diving with whales is during the winter: Humpback Whales are on many divers’ minds when planning a scuba trip to Tonga. However, you can only see these migrating whales between the months of June and October, but more likely July and October in Vava’u.
- Book for dives in advance during the whale season: Most of Tonga’s dive operators run whale swimming tours during the whale season (June-October) so if you’re planning a dive holiday during this time, be sure to book trips in advance. Dive boats often get fully booked during this busy time in Tonga.
- Not all dive operators offer courses or Intro Dives: It seems that just about every scuba diving operator offers courses nowadays, but it Tonga, well, that’s not always the case. While some operators in Tongatapu only offer Intro Dives and Bubblemaker courses, some in Vava’u only take certified divers on recreational dives.
- Not all Recreational Dives include gear: Scuba diving operators in Tonga, especially in Vava’u, all have different inclusions when it comes to recreational dives. While almost all of them offer hot drinks and snacks between dives (yum!), only some of them actually include equipment rental in the rate of the dive. Many require you to rent the gear at an additional cost, as needed. So when comparing prices, be sure to check whether it includes rental gear if you need it.