The Kingdom of Tonga offers a vast array of all year round diving and snorkelling for all levels and experiences in clear tropical waters. There are over fifty different dive spots with yet a lot more to discover. Underwater visibility is between 25-40metres and water temperature is between 24ºC (74F) to 28ºC (84F). Observe radiant blues, reds, yellows and oranges of the sea life that inhabit the pristine coral gardens. Find abundant tropical fish; sharks, rays, turtles and more on the reefs, thriving encrusted wrecks, vast sea caves, dark tunnels and volcanic black walls.

Vava’u - paradise pure and perfect

This is a superb location to combine world-class game or sportfishing with your dive holiday.  Why should you go to Vava’u?  Purely for the variety of things to do and see. The main town of Neiafu is quaint.  Located on the spectacular Port of Refuge harbour – one of the most beautiful harbours in the South Pacific, its waterfront is lined with a number of old Victorian style wooden buildings, palm trees and churches. Neiafu caters for the tourist with small gift shops and plenty of little cafes, restaurants and bars, some perched over the seas with gorgeous views of the harbour.

Diving

The Vava’u Island group is a spectacular tropical island paradise in the Pacific Ocean. One word describes the diving here ‘Magic!’ It has a year-round climate suitable for swimming, snorkeling, diving and sailing. White sand beaches ring some islands while others have tropical forests, sea-level caves, and dramatic limestone cliffs with breathtaking vistas.

The water is crystal clear with visibility as good as it gets in the Pacific, averaging 30 metres plus.  A big plus is the incredible variety of diving found in one small group of magnificent islands. Vava’u has numerous safe and interesting cavern dives unique to the area.  There is little in the way of currents and most dives are leisurely swim throughs, archways, tunnels and drop offs.  With over 50 islands in the Vava’u group, there are still some wonderful dive sites that are still waiting to be discovered and explored.

Ha’apai - perfect idyllic holiday

Just a 40 minute flight from Tongatapu, Ha’apai’s coral islands are surrounded by white sand beaches and pristine waters.   The pace of life is totally relaxed – perfect for an idyllic South Pacific Holiday.

Diving

Many of the dive sites in Ha’apai are in sheltered waters with some in open water outside of the barrier reef where you will encounter pelagic sharks, tuna, trevally and barracuda.  You will see turtles on many dives as well as eagle rays, sea snakes and a myriad of tropical reef fish.

Diving the reefs you’ll find caves, canyons, caverns and tunnels to explore, as well as vertical walls, fast flowing passes and colourful coral gardens. Hard corals dominate the reefs and there are also gorgonian fans, soft coral and hundreds of fish species.

From July to October, humpback whales can often be seen from the dive boat as these magnificent creatures migrate through Tongan waters to mate and calve.  As there is only one dive operator in Ha’apai, it is highly recommended to pre-book whale watch trips to avoid disappointment.

Tongatapu/‘Eua

Go diving in the largest underwater caves in the South Pacific, one of which is likened to diving in a huge underwater cathedral. The ‘Cathedral’ lives up to its name, with natural light illuminating a 20 – 30 metre deep underwater amphitheatre.  Inside see schools of giant dogtooth tuna. The waters are full of fish and dynamic coral of all the colours of a stained glass window. See lion fish, white tip sharks, turtles, rays and the other big creatures that inhabit deep water surrounding ‘Eua Island, which lies close to the Tongan Trench (the second deepest trench in the world).

Magnificent humpback whales swim close to ‘Eua Island on route to and from breeding grounds around Ha’apai and Vava’u from July to October. Watch the powerful aerial displays of one of the largest marine mammals in the world or slip into the water and swim with these incredible creatures – truly a humbling and life changing experience.

Your experience will be unmatched. No queuing of boats and only small groups of 4 – 6…Ideal for friends and family.

The Kingdom of Tonga is widely regarded as a ‘fisherman’s Kingdom’ and has the largest game fishing fleet in the South Pacific. Your chances of catching the mighty Blue Marlin are better in Tonga than almost anywhere in the world.

With the fishing grounds so close, game and sport fishing are day trips so you spend more time on the water actually fishing – whether it be around the drop offs, sea mounts, F.A.D’s or reef systems.

The average charter is for 10 hours. The game and sport fishing boats take 3 or 4 anglers and the tackle is first class and ranges from 12lb to 130lb. About 85% of catches are tagged and released.

Salt-water fly-fishing has tremendous potential and the fish you are likely to do battle in the inner shores with Giant and Blue Trevally, Tuna species and a host of hard fighting reefs fish. Open Blue Water fly-fishing offers five species of Billfish and all the pelagic species … making the Kingdom of Tonga the place to seek records!

What you are likely to hook up

Tonga is one of those rare destinations that have Billfish every month of the year – and that’s world class.

Marlin

Whether it is Black, Blue or Striped Marlin, the Kingdom of Tonga has them all and they are all found within a comfortable day charter trip. On average the fleet are reporting two to three Billfish shots a day per boat.

Big Sailfish

The Kingdom of Tonga is world renowned for its big Sails and they are found all along the drop off and reef areas, as well as out wide in 3000ft of water. Live baiting is deadly on Sails and pack attacks are not uncommon. The average weight is 80lb to 90lb and great on sport and light tackle.

Short Bill Spearfish

Short Bill Spearfish are also good in numbers and are usually found out wide.

Mahi-mahi

Light tackle fishing, whether it be trolling or baits, is very productive and you will find them in just about every fishing ground. 40lb Mahi-mahi is average and double and triple strikes are not uncommon.

Wahoo

Fish around the drop off areas and be prepared to get Wahoo’d. They love those expensive Marlin lures and can strip the skirt off in a flash. Excellent on light tackle and renowned for a blistering first run.

Yellow Fin Tuna

The seamounts produce consistent catches and those quadruple hook ups add a new dimension to cockpit chaos. Fish from 40lb to 130lb will test any angler and on stand up tackle you are in for a battle.

Dog Tooth Tuna

If you are into early daybreak fishing, the “doggies” are hard to bear. They are pound for pound one of the hardest fighting fish you will experience.

Coral Trout

Good fun when bottom fishing, but be prepared for a tough battle – a 20 to 30lb trout will give you a good workout. They take jigs and baits, especially live bait, and they are excellent table fish.

To get to Tonga - the island where you can swim with the whales and embark on a Marlin hook-up challenge - you need to book an international flight from Auckland to the capital of Tonga, Nuku'alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu. The international sector is just over 3 hours flight time. You then transfer to a domestic flight from Tongatapu to the islands of Vava'u or Ha’apai in the north of Tonga – these are around a 50 – 55 minute flight on the domestic airline.

Air New Zealand flies to Tonga 5 times a week with the best connections to the outer islands being on the Monday flight.

Word on the streets is that over night accommodation in and around Auckland is hard to get and seats on domestic flights will all be at a premium price. Plus there will be heaps of supporters coming from the islands to support their rugby teams - making South Pacific flights very busy.

2011 is a huge year for New Zealanders what with the Rugby World Cup, Pacific Heads of Government Forums, Elections, etc - and the success of such major events is always reliant on so many people as part of their job or as a volunteer. So if your job will ensure that being involved will reduce your opportunity to escape to your warm tropical paradise next winter, we urge you to think about and plan your escape now before you get caught up in the hype!

OR if your plan is to escape all the madness and mayhem we highly recommend that you do this now as aircraft seats into and out of New Zealand plus main trunk domestic flights are going to be at a premium through September/October 2011 in particular, and don't forget, the cheapest seats always sell out first.

Remember - dreams don’t just happen overnight. They need nurturing and planning Early so you can reap the rewards.

Other 2011 dates where aircraft seats will sell out early!

• April 15 - May 1 - School Holidays
• April 22 - 25 - Easter
• July 16 - 31 - School Holidays
• October 8 - 24 - School Holidays
• Early September - Pacific Heads of Government Forum in Auckland
• Then its the Rugby World Cup

So Call one of our Specialist Dive Travel Consultants, Plan early for next year and reward yourself with the holiday you want. Enquire now » and don't pay a premium, because you got onto it Early

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Regards - "THE DIVE TEAM" - Dive Fish Snow Travel Auckland
PHONE: (09) 479 2210 -
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