NAM HAE (NO 225) - Tongatapu
The Nam Hae (No 225) isn't your typical deep-water wreck dive, and that’s precisely why we love it. This old fishing vessel, grounded on Tongatapu’s eastern reef back in '69, sits right on the surface. You're effectively snorkelling over it, or diving in gin-clear shallows, with the wreck’s bones breaking the surface like a skeleton. We always make time for this spot, usually as a sunny afternoon cool-down after some deeper dives. The light play through the fragmented hull is incredible, especially around midday, with shafts of sun illuminating the resident schools of tiny baitfish that shimmer like scattered glitter. We’ve seen juvenile reef sharks cruising through the larger gaps and the coral growth, while not extensive, offers pops of purple and green. It's a fantastic spot for photographers looking for interesting light and composition, and for anyone who just wants an easy, relaxing exploration without depth limits or deco worries.
- Location
- Tongatapu, Tonga, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -21.260000, -175.171660
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Marine Protected Area: Holonga SMA
Nearby Dive Sites in Tongatapu
- ATA - 19m (wreck)
- ATA - 18m (wreck)
- Hakau Mounu
- Hakau Tapu
- Hakau Ualanga 'Uta
- MARMER - 2m (wreck)
Marine Life in Tongatapu
Home to 372 recorded species including 320 reef fish, 16 sea cucumbers, 13 hard corals, 11 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 clams & mussels, 4 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma lutescens) - Reef Fish
- Coral Beauty (Centropyge bispinosa) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) - Reef Fish
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Rivulated Parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Dot and dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) - Reef Fish
- Onelined wrasse (Labrichthys unilineatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Roundhead Parrotfish (Scarus globiceps) - Reef Fish