09 & 10 – 2010 – Tonga UNDERWATER

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: We’d heard the diving in Tonga was pretty good. It really did depend on the sight. The big attraction here of course would be snorkeling/swimming with the humpback whales…. The crinoid in the photo is actually an animal, despite looking like a plant. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This was the largest anemone field we had ever seen. What made it more unusual was the reddish color. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This was the largest anemone field we had ever seen. What made it more unusual was the reddish color. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Always a fun experience to see a Green Sea turtle underwater. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This egg case is actually a ribbon of thousands of eggs. The animal that laid them is not even close to the size of the egg case. These look like underwater roses. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This cavern was a little over a 100 feet deep and very reminiscent of those we dove in Niue Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: These giant sea fans are actually part of the animal kingdom. Huge colonies which collect to filter feed plankton in the sea water. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: The reds and greens of these gorgonians showed up depending on the amount of light. Fields of green and red. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This site was at one of the most productive dive areas we found with Riki Tiki Diving. A small pinnacle island located in the northern pass where most boats would approach from the north heading into Vava’u, Tonga. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Cindy poses for perspective. Though the water was 80 degrees, she tends to get a bit cold and likes to wear her “beanie” for some extra warmth. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: There was nowhere else in Tonga we saw Gorgonians like these. Niche environments provide some spectacular settings. The current, light and nutrients must have been just right here. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Tonga isn’t especially known for it’s shark sightings, but all species are in the area. This is first common location in the western Pacific where Bull sharks start to be seen. During Humpback Whale season, Tiger and even Great White sharks have been spotted. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Anemone’s and clowns are always a sign of a healthy reef. Many species are seen throughout the Tongan group. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Certain areas of the Vava’u group were really beautiful underwater. However, it was hit and miss regarding the underwater health of the reefs. Separations of less than 100 yards could make the difference. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: You can get inches away from these guys. Very cool. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: The soft corals of Fiji are famous (500 miles to our west), but Tonga started to give us a taste of what we hope to see in huge color and numbers as we move on next season. The strobe light really brings out the color that just can’t be seen without it. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: The Purples and Reds come out in the current. Coral polyps, both soft and hard are 1000’s of tiny animal colonies grouped together to form the beautiful color we see. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: And of course the underwater topography is pretty cool too. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Here Cindy is swimming though a nice cut with red wire corals growing off the walls reaching out into the current and sunlight for nutrients. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Tonga, not usually known for it’s diving can be pretty nice. I’d recommend speaking with a good local company like Riki Tiki Dive who does a more custom boutique experience rather than the oft found cattle boat experience. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Red, Purple…Color! KIngdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Greens and Yellows abound in the sea fans as well Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Tonga on display Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Tonga Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: These corals are truly soft. We try not to touch, but the consistency is like jello. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: This was Cindy with Ali (pronounced “Oly”, our dive guide with Riki Tiki Diving. He’s lived here his whole life and is most likely the most experienced dive guide in Tonga at this time. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Well it finally got cold enough for Cindy to change to her dry suit. Here you can see how close the clown fish will let us get. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Their anemone’s protect them due to a special slime coat they have on their skin. Only clown fish and certain damsel fish have this coating which allows them to freely swim in and out of an anemone. Without this coating, they would be stuck like superglue to the anemone and become a tasty meal. Though anemone’s look like plants, they too are carnivorous animals which filter plankton from the water but will opportunistically take an errant fish that swims into it’s tangled web. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: Tonga has it’s share of healthy large hard coral too. This is the structure that over the eons of time build the worlds coral reefs. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

: You can see why when we come upon healthy live coral, we don’t want to touch. These structures have the strength of heavy duty potato chips, so look but don’t touch. Kingdom of Tonga – South Pacific

SV Beach House

09 & 10 – 2010 – Tonga UNDERWATER