Tāemā Bank - Upolu
Bow Bells Reef on Barbados’ south coast is one of those spots we always make time for. It’s not about dramatic drop-offs or massive pelagics here; it's about the small stuff, the vibrant, busy community living in the nooks and crannies. We love drifting along, eyes peeled for the cleaner gobies darting in and out of the larger fish’s mouths. Spot Snappers hang out in loose groups, and you’ll often see a couple of feisty Angelfish chasing each other around the coral heads. The shallower parts of Bow Bells are perfect for really slowing down and appreciating the smaller details. Look closely, and you might just spot a cryptic Shortnose Batfish or an Arrow Stargazer buried in the sand, just their eyes peeking out. The Dwarf Wrasse are everywhere, a constant flicker of colour. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light is usually best then, painting the coral in a softer glow. The currents here are generally gentle, making it a relaxed dive suitable for all experience levels, especially if you enjoy macro life and detailed observation.
- Location
- Upolu, Samoa, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -14.321944, -170.653880
- 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)
- Nāfanua Bank (reef)
- NAM HAE NO.255 - 0m (wreck)
- Namua Island - 3-15m (reef)
- Palolo Deep Marine Reserve - 5-30m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Tāemā 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 Tāemā 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