10 Best Places to Snorkel in Niue

1. Limu Pools

Best tide: Half to full incoming tide
Best time for young children: low tide
Location: Signposted along the main road, Namukulu, west coast of Niue.

One of the safest spots for snorkelling in Niue, the Limu Pools is best visited at mid tide for enough water to snorkel comfortably. Alternatively, come at low tide if you’re with young kids. The pools are a great example of how clear the water is, with plenty of reef fish and coral to see. There is a shade cloth and bench for relaxing. Check out the side track and ladder to another pool for snorkelling with a fun swim-through under an archway. However, be aware of possible surges through this archway. The water can also be a little “fuzzy” in this area where the freshwater meets the saltwater.

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2. Matapa Chasm

Best tide: Any!
Location: Signposted at the back of the grassy parking area in Hikutavake village, northwest coast of Niue.

A snorkelling haven at any tide, Matapa Chasm is a must-visit. After a seven-minute forest walk, you’ll emerge at a sheltered cove with towering chasm walls. The water here harbours many reef fish, crabs and more. The water can sometimes be a little distorted with some freshwater mixing with the saltwater, especially at low tide – it also makes the water refreshingly cool! Snorkelling is good around midday when the sun lights up the entire cove.

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3. Avatele Beach

Best tide: low to mid outgoing tide
Location: Signposted off the main road, Avatele, southeast coast of Niue.

This coral beach provides excellent snorkelling at low to mid tide with an array of fish, soft coral and hard coral. Be careful if snorkelling at low tide, as the hard coral is growing close to the water’s surface. Also, be aware of a strong rip channel near the boat ramp.

For more places to beachcomb, take a look at the 5 Best Beaches in Niue.

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4. Utuko Reef

Best tide: low-to-mid incoming tide
Location: Sea track next to Crazy Uga Cafe, Alofi town centre, central west coast of Niue.

Accessible from the heart of Alofi, Utuko Reef is located next to the Crazy Uga Cafe. The sandy cove leads out onto a reef with snorkelling pools to the left of the cove, which is best swam at low-to-mid incoming tide as long as the swell isn’t big. There’s a bit of freshwater runoff here, so dive down for a clearer view when snorkelling. See more sea tracks in the area in the 6 Best Sea Tracks in Alofi.

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5. Talava Arches

Best time: low tide
Location: Signposted at the back of the grassy parking area in Hikutavake village, northwest coast of Niue.

The Talava Arches is more about seeing amazing coastal arches and limestone caves, but the snorkelling here is also fabulous. After walking down a 30-minute sea track through the forest and scrambling through some limestone caves, you’ll emerge at an opening where you’ll see a huge archway. Below this opening is a narrow channel lined with coral and fish, ideal for snorkelling. It’s best visited at low tide so you can explore the whole area and walk on the reef to the archway.

Discover more low tide delights like this in the 10 Places to Go in Niue at Low Tide.

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6. Avaiki Cave

Best tide: low tide
Location: Signposted on the main road between Makefu and Tuapa, west coast of Niue.

Only accessible at low tide, the Avaiki Cave is a must-visit to snorkel in its magnificent cave pool. There are a few clusters of coral to see which attract reef fish. Be careful on the slippery rocks when getting into the pool.

Check out more cave pools for snorkelling, as well as caves to explore on foot, in the 10 Best Caves in Niue.

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7. Hio Beach

Best tide: 30 minutes to 1 hour on either side of low tide
Location: Sea track next to the Hio Cafe, signposted along the main road, Tuapa, west coast of Niue.

This sweeping coral beach has a warm snorkelling pool on the right side of the reef, as well as a cave to explore. Snorkelling at Hio Beach is best enjoyed at 30 minutes to an hour on either side of low tide. The Hio Cafe & Bar is located just above the beach, which you can learn more about in The 10 Best Restaurants in Niue.

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8. Hikutavake Pools

Best tide: 30 minutes on either side of low tide
Location: The western side of the grassy parking area in Hikutavake, signposted along the main road, northwest coast of Niue.

Walk down the Hikutavake Sea Track to a reef where there are two large pools lined with coral and an abundance of fish. It’s best snorkelled at low tide, allowing 30 minutes on either side of low tide. Make sure that no waves are crashing over the reef, which means it should be safe for swimming. Be aware of coral cuts when entering and exiting the pools. Alternatively, there is some excellent shallow snorkelling further down the reef just south of the large pools.

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9. Amanau Sea Track

Best tide: low to mid tide
Location: Signposted in Alofi South, approximately 100 m (110 yards) west of Pacific Way Bar, west coast of Niue.

A shady spot for snorkelling in a cave, the Amanau Sea Track provides access to a cave pool down a wooden ladder. There are various reef fish to find in the pool, which is best for snorkelling at low to mid tide.

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10. Alofi Wharf

Best tide: low to mid tide
Location: Wharf access is opposite the Alofi Commercial Centre car park and next to Tomb Point, Alofi town centre, central west coast of Niue.

For competent ocean swimmers only, there is good snorkelling from Alofi Wharf at low-to-mid tide. Snorkel with fins where there is step access to the water on either the south or the north side of the wharf (both options are good). Follow the reef for a short way and return the same way. This snorkelling spot is a great place to see Niue’s endemic sea snake, the katuali – find out more in the 10 Animals & Birds Native to Niue.

Note that swimming from Alofi Wharf on a Sunday is forbidden. There is no public access to the wharf when the cargo ship is in port.

© NiuePocketGuide.com