Day 3 & 4 - Kayaking and Diving

Day 3 & 4 - Avaiki Caves, Inner reef Hikatavake Village, Kayaking Mutalau Village, Diving (Sea snake gully, bubble cave)

We explored some more sights along the western side of the island and found some great spots for snorkelling.  I also started the first of my dives as part of my advanced diving course.  The water was a lot cooler than I had expected and the visibility and intactness of the reefs and sea life was incredible.



My favourite snorkelling pools within the inner reef at the Hikatavake Village.  You have to snorkel at low tide otherwise the waves crash across the pools reducing visibilty

The crystal blue waters of the inner reef pools that were filled with fish

A quick stop for lunch


We stopped at the highest point on the island nearToi Village (northern part of island) at 69m


We followed the sea track down from the Mutalau Village to find only a small break on the reef, the perfect chance to get out in our inflatable kayak

Once offshore we snorkelled from the kayak to see the outer reef

This is looking straight down on the reef where it drops off almost vertically from 10m to over several thousand metres.  This is why whales and big game fish are seen so close to shore

We paddled out to a fish aggregation device used to help fishermen catch fish

Below the surface as far as I could see were hundreds of rainbow runners (similar to a NZ kingfish)

A hawk moth we saw flying around with its big proboscis

Lakepa Village sea track -  the windward east coast was very different to other parts of the island

 The village information centre had some great information about the local fish and Uga (coconut crabs)

Alofi village with a bank, post office, bakery, post office, police station and supermarket

Avaiki Caves

There was a side passage through the limestone caves where we ended up above the main pool and cavern




The pools at the Avaiki Caves were really special. 


There were also plenty of pools within the inner reef near the caves to explore

Walking along the inner reef at low tide

I was totally surprised at how well the reefs have been preserved compared to other islands and the number so fish thriving within the reef

Angel fish

Camoflaged crabs on the coral





If you walk north along the reef you then come to Palaha Caves another very cool cave system full of stalactites and stalacmites.




Hio beach - the only real beach on the island

Real nice highlighter coral found in one of the rock pools


We went out for a fish right before sunset. 



We didn't have much luck but it was great just to be out there

We stayed out and watched the sun set

While in alofi we stayed at Kololis guesthouse.  Basic accomodation with everything you need but beware of the roosters that crow all night long. You will need your ear plugs

I decided to do my advanced divers certificate which involves 5 dives.  Launching the boat from Avatele Wharf for our 1 minute ride to snake gully.  This was a nice dive with plenty of sea snakes.  We were able to hold them and they would sort of curl up and slither through your hands, they are poisonous but there mouths are too small to bite humans.

We also dived 'bubble cave' this was a neat dive where we swam through several caves (we neede torches) and surfaced within a dark pressurised limestone cave.