Namua Island - Upolu
Namua Island really is something special, especially if you’re newer to diving or just want a relaxed, beautiful day out. We love pulling up to this little islet, just off Upolu’s eastern tip, knowing what’s below. The fringing reef here is shallow, topping out at around 15 metres, but it’s dense with corals and we’ve had some fantastic encounters with green turtles munching away, seemingly unbothered by us watching them. Entry is usually a gentle drop from the boat, and once you’re down, it’s all about a slow drift over the reef. We often spot needle-tooth morays peeking out from rocky crevices, and the smaller stuff is everywhere if you take the time to look – we’ve seen everything from colourful Indian seahares to plenty of cowries, like the Carnelian and Porous. Keep an eye out for the pink whiprays often found resting on the sandy patches between coral bommies. Visibility here tends to be consistently good, often pushing 20 metres, making it a great spot for underwater photography, particularly for wide-angle shots of the reef structure. Dive it in the morning for the best light.
- Location
- Upolu, Samoa, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -13.870000, -171.630000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-15m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Eva Anoama'a
Best Time to Dive in Upolu
The warmest water temperatures in Upolu occur in January, averaging 29.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.4°C (air: 26.7°C)
- February: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- March: 29.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
- April: 29.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
- May: 29.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- June: 29.4°C (air: 26.2°C)
- July: 29.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- August: 29.4°C (air: 25.6°C)
- September: 29.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
- October: 29.4°C (air: 26.1°C)
- November: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- December: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Upolu
- Amuula Rock (reef)
- Apia Harbour Wreck - 10-20m (wreck)
- KWANG MYUNG NO 65 - 0m (wreck)
- Nāfanua Bank (reef)
- NAM HAE NO.255 - 0m (wreck)
- Palolo Deep Marine Reserve - 5-30m (reef)
- Tāemā Bank (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Namua Island
Marine Life in Upolu
Home to 461 recorded species including 339 reef fish, 70 hard corals, 16 sea snails & nudibranchs, 8 sea cucumbers, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Black Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma quinquevittatum) - Reef Fish
- Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded-tail Coral-cod (Cephalopholis urodeta) - Reef Fish
- Black Butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus) - Reef Fish
- Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Reef Fish
- Corrugated coral (Pavona varians) - Hard Corals
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Japanese Parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Reef Fish
- Charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Namua Island
Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories