Playground - Vava'u Group
Playground offers a gentle introduction to Vava'u diving, maxing out at 20m. It's an easy drift over a soft coral slope, great for new divers or anyone wanting a relaxed afternoon. We usually spot reef sharks cruising by and plenty of schooling fusiliers. It's not a thrill-seeker's site, but it's reliably pleasant.
- Location
- Vava'u Group, Tonga, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -18.658300, -174.068000
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: 'Utungake SMA
Best Time to Dive in Vava'u Group
The warmest water temperatures in Vava'u Group occur in January, averaging 27.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
- February: 27.8°C (air: 26.9°C)
- March: 27.8°C (air: 27.1°C)
- April: 27.8°C (air: 26.8°C)
- May: 27.8°C (air: 26.1°C)
- June: 27.8°C (air: 25.1°C)
- July: 27.8°C (air: 24.6°C)
- August: 27.8°C (air: 24.0°C)
- September: 27.8°C (air: 24.5°C)
- October: 27.8°C (air: 24.9°C)
- November: 27.8°C (air: 25.7°C)
- December: 27.8°C (air: 26.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Vava'u Group
- AX Factor Dive House Reef (wreck)
- AX Factor Dive House Reef (reef)
- CLAN MACWILLIAM - 30m (wreck)
- Clown fish city
- FANTASY - 10m (wreck)
- Fingers (cave)
- GLEN MACWILLIAM - 40m (wreck)
- Historic Dive Wreck Clan Mc William (reef)
- Mariner's Cave - 3-8m (cave)
- Swallows Cave - 3-12m (cave)
- The Arch - 10-25m (reef)
- Twin caves
Nearest Dive Centres to Playground
Marine Life in Vava'u Group
Home to 322 recorded species including 300 reef fish, 9 sea cucumbers, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sharks & rays, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Rivulated Parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Halfmoon triggerfish (Sufflamen chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Atoll Butterflyfish (Chaetodon mertensii) - Reef Fish
- Hoeven's wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma lutescens) - Reef Fish
- Coral Beauty (Centropyge bispinosa) - Reef Fish
- Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Playground
Based on average water temperature of 27.8°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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