Nāfanua Bank - Upolu
Labanderas Reef gives you a good feel for Jardines de la Reina's healthy reefs. We typically see sharks patrolling the wall here, often reef sharks and sometimes silkies. The coral formations are solid, healthy, and provide plenty of shelter for smaller reef fish. It’s a reliable dive for anyone wanting a classic Caribbean reef experience.
- Location
- Upolu, Samoa, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -14.301666, -170.566120
- Type
- reef
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)
- NAM HAE NO.255 - 0m (wreck)
- Namua Island - 3-15m (reef)
- Palolo Deep Marine Reserve - 5-30m (reef)
- Tāemā Bank (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Nāfanua Bank
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 Nāfanua Bank
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