where to go/dive

Hi, I had to change all my plans, but it seems, that I will finaly go to Tonga for 10 days top, in june or july. I need your advice if you may....

I am in doubt between Haapai and Vavau.... I wanna go to a scenic place, and dive a lot, but still stay cheap and be able to walk around and meet locals. I am crazy about diving and I heard that Vavau is the place, although Haapai is more deserted and wild... Can you give me advices on where to go/stay? I'd like reccomendations for staying on a budget place in Vavau (since I have some for Haapai). Also, the oopinion of the best dive operators in that group! Thanks a lot in advance!

I'd recommend Lucky's Beach houses Luckys in the Vava'u chain. They are on the island of Utangake, which is connected by road to Pangaimotu then Vava'u. It's a small place (4 fales). Two have kitchens if you want to self-cater, or there is the option of Lynn's awesome home cooking. The resort has some nice snorkelling just off it. It is next to a village and we were made very welcome there; we also walked to Pangaimotu and explored the village there, again with a warm welcome received.

The other budget option is Adventure Backpackers in Neiafu- this was ok, but you are not near a beach; you are near the cafes and restaurants if this appeals. It's pretty touristy in July.

I had a great time diving with Dive Vavau . The owners and DMs are great, and all really know their stuff. THey are keen to dive the outer islands, and are good at matching the site to the divers' abilities. They were all very good at pointing out macro life as well as the big stuff. Go in July and you stand a chance of hearing whale song as you dive, or evern seeing a humpback whale.

Edited by: fyrelizard

Thanks a lot. That seems a lot the experience i had in Mozambique, and definetly what I am looking for! Thanks, Thais

Staying out @ Lucky's means you 'll have to rent a car or scooter to come/go from the dock in town/buy supplies to cook (or take expensive taxis all the time) it's rather isolated for a person on their own.

Harry, you are right that it is out of the way, but I did stay there solo. The dive shop came to get me each morning; Kurt from Lucky's was also really helpful if he was going into town anyway. I tended to get the boat to pick me up from near the resort, then go back on it into town if I wanted to do stuff there. It depends on what kind of experience you want- I liked being in the middle of nowhere and meeting the locals, but there certainly isn't a party scene at Lucky's; you do need to be prepared to like your own company.

"The dive shop came to get me each morning....Kurt from Lucky's was also really helpful if he was going into town...."

Very decent of them and typical of Vava'u tourism operations-very considerate people.

For instance Dolphin Diving gave me a ride into Neiafu from the airport in the cab they hired and politely refused my offer of half the fare saying I could 'make it up to them later' -sterling folks all 'round.