Mariner's Cave
A mysterious underwater cave on Nuapapu Island. You must hold your breath and swim several metres to enter, and mist forms inside as the swell rises and falls.
The entrance to Mariner's Cave lies 1–2 m underwater. You enter from the side of the boat and swim about 4 m through an underwater passage into the air chamber inside. Inside, the light is a deep blue, and as the swell compresses the air, mist suddenly forms and then disappears. The cave takes its name from a Tongan legend recorded by the 19th-century Englishman William Mariner. It is only recommended for strong swimmers who can free dive. Always follow your guide, and do not enter when the swell is high.
Opening hours
Boat-based tours
Nearby sights
- Nuapapu Island
- Swallows' Cave
- Hunga Lagoon
- Port Maurelle, Kapa Island
- Swim with Humpback Whales
- 'Euakafa Island
- Vava'u Sailing Grounds
- Taunga Island