The Best Scuba Diving in Samoa: Top 10 Places to Dive 🤿 [2024]

1. The Rock

Location: Apolima Strait, accessible from Upolu
Depth: 12-30 m (39-98 ft)
Difficulty: Advanced

Although closer to the big island of Savai’i, wedged between it and Apolima island, The Rock is accessible with dive operators from Upolu. If you want to see some of the Pacific’s most majestic pelagics, this would be it with parades of reef sharks, barracuda, eagle rays, stingrays, as well as huge schools of snappers and fusiliers. As for coral, expect gorgonian sea fans as well as a mix of hard and soft coral species at this exposed pinnacle reef formation.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

2. Apolima Gardens

Location: Apolima Strait, accessible from Upolu
Depth: 5-15 m (16-49 ft)
Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced

Fans of coral gardens will love this vivid aquarium teeming with colourful hard corals, anemones and hundreds of tropical fish darting in between. Apolima Gardens is located just off the shores of Apolima island between Upolu and Savai’i. There’s a gentle current that slowly takes you for a ride on this shallow dive.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

3. John Williams V (Juno Wreck)

Location: North coast of Savai’i
Depth: 25 m (82 ft) maximum
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

Dive past impressive canyons and boulders created by the Mt Matavanu eruption in 1905 to reach the wreck of the John Williams V. Also known as the “Juno Wreck“, this shallow wreck dive of this missionary boat that crashed into the reef in 1881 is not only eerily wonderful to explore but is now home to stingrays, turtles, lionfish and a variety of coral. The dive is relatively easy, making for a great option for newly-certified divers to experience their first wreck dive.

© Samoa Tourism Authority

4. Opperer House

Location: Apolima Strait, accessible from Upolu
Depth: 7-30 m (23-98 ft)
Difficulty: Intermediate

A soft coral paradise, Opperer House radiates an operatic ambience as the coral and fish gently sway from side to side. The name of the site, however, is nothing to do with this comparison, as it was named after the diver who discovered it. The coral garden begins at a ledge at around 7 m (23 ft) before dropping down to around 40 m (131 ft). Although the site is ideal for reef fish and macro life, you can also hear the whale song in the area between August and October. Learn more about the whale migration to Samoa in Can You See Whales & Dolphins in Samoa?

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

5. Giza

Location: Northwest coast of Upolu
Depth: 18+ m (59+ ft)
Difficulty: Advanced

One of the closest dive sites to the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, Giza takes only 15 minutes to reach by boat. This deep pinnacle lies in an exposed position, so is only dived in calm conditions. When it’s on, however, a variety of pelagic marine life can be spotted in the current: reef sharks, eagle rays and schools of trevally and fusiliers. Learn more about dive operators in The Best Dive Shops & Operators in Samoa, as well as times when conditions are likely to be at their calmest in The Best Time to Dive in Samoa.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

6. Gilligan’s

Location: Apolima Strait, accessible from Upolu
Depth: 10-20 m (33-66 ft)
Difficulty: Intermediate

Boasting a dramatic reef structure that’s marvellous to behold when the current is suitable, Gilligan’s is a pure delight! Off the western coast of Manono Island, this compact dive site with pinnacles, canyons and swim-throughs astonishes with its displays of staghorn coral, table coral, colourful sponges and soft coral.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

7. Tivae Wreck

Location: Northwest coast of Upolu
Depth: 20 m (66 ft)
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Another fantastic wreck dive in Samoa, the Tivae Wreck is a purpose-sunk artificial reef created by a Samoan tug boat sunk in 2013. At 30 m (98 ft) in length and 8 m (26 ft) wide, Tivae has plenty to explore including the opportunity to penetrate into the hold. Needless to say, the wreck attracts a variety of marine life to experience.

© Pixabay

8. Broken Ear

Location: Apia
Depth: 5-20 m (16-66 ft)
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

A dive site accessible from the beach, Broken Ear has a myriad of coral bommies and craggy reefs with plenty of healthy fish populations to go with it. See schools of butterflyfish, parrotfish, sweetlips, as well as clownfish guarding their anemones. Also, keep an eye out for macro life such as nudibranchs, anemone shrimps and coral crabs.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

9. Turtle Power

Location: Apia
Depth: 5-20 m (16-66 ft)
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

The name says it all, as turtles are what this dive site off the shores of Apia is all about. It’s not unusual to see more than 10 turtles on just one trip to Turtle Power. Shelled friends aside, you’re also likely to spot parrotfish, unicornfish and snapper in between the more elusive macro life. Small caves within the reef also hide octopus, pipefish, lionfish and scorpionfish.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

10. Palolo Deep

Location: Apia
Depth: 5-15 m (16-49 ft)
Difficulty: Beginner

One of Samoa’s top snorkelling spots, there’s more to uncover at the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve for divers. After a shallow swim from shore, follow a coral-lined runway where the lagoon drops into a canyon of thriving staghorn coral awash in colourful reef fish, as well as the odd hidden octopus and passing turtle. This dive site is a popular one for intro dives, which you can learn more about in Learn to Dive in Samoa: Where to Get Your Scuba Diving Certification.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Scuba Diving in Samoa

Now that you know about the best dive sites and places to dive in Samoa, here are the answers to the internet’s frequently asked questions about scuba diving in Samoa!

Is There Good Diving in Samoa?

Absolutely! There is good diving in Samoa with a variety of dive sites, from coral gardens to wreck dives. What’s more, there are hundreds of species of coral and fish to discover, while turtles are a frequent sight and a highlight of scuba diving trips.

What Island Has the Best Scuba Diving?

Arguably, the island of Upolu in Samoa has the best scuba diving simply because there are more established dive sites offering more variety for divers wanting to do multiple trips.