Swallows Cave
Vava'u, Tonga · Tonga
A wide-mouthed sea cave with a 15 metre entrance arch that floods with natural light at midday. Named for the bird colony nesting in the dry upper chamber, the dive explores the cave floor at 10 to 14 metres where lionfish, moray eels, and encrusting hard corals crowd every surface. A short swim leads to a coral garden terrace popular with green turtles.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
23 to 29°C
3mm full
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Green sea turtle
Photo: MARC MARTIN SOLA · CC BY-NC
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Lionfish
Photo: 808_Diver · CC BY-NC
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Moray eel
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Field journal
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