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Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Vaiula Beach Fales at Tafatafa, on Upolu's south coast, describes its own lagoon as large and very deep, with a beach launch and solid, constant trade winds from June to October; riders kite downwind to Nu'usafe'e Island with boat support.
Nu'usafe'e is a tuft of white sand and pandanus about 1.4 km off the coast, with a lagoon of its own and an exposed position for catching the trades. The guide that surveyed Samoa's spots notes it is not very tide-dependent and has a few waves, including an established surf break.
Boat access to the island comes from Vaiula Beach Fales itself or from operators based in nearby Maninoa — Manoa Tours and Rainforest Runaway Ecotours both run out that way.
June to October is the reliable window; November to April is wet-season and cyclone territory, and no source shows lessons being held on this lagoon — the school teaches at Sataoa.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 12–28 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- flat, choppy, waves
- Depth
- Deep lagoon close in, shallower reef water around the island
- Seabed
- sand, coral, rock
- Skill
- intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Not for beginners — intermediate and up
- Wind range
- 12 kn – 28 kn
Access & parking
Beach launch at Vaiula Beach Fales, Tafatafa; Nu'usafe'e Island by boat with the fales or a Maninoa tour operator.
Parking: At the beach fales.
Amenities
- Beach fales and accommodation at the launch
- Boat support for downwind runs (arranged through the fales)
- Snorkelling, kayak and cultural tours from the same operator
Needs local verification: Sources: https://www.vaiulabeachfales.com/wind-sports/ (the fales' own page: a large and very deep lagoon, launch from the beach, kite downwind to Nu'usafe'e Island with boat support, solid constant trade winds June to October), https://samoapocketguide.com/kitesurfing-in-samoa-the-top-places-to-kitesurf (Nu'usafe'e about 1.4 km off Upolu's south coast with its own surrounding lagoon and an exposed position, reachable by boat with Manoa Tours, Rainforest Runaway Ecotours or Vaiula Beach Fales, not very tide-dependent, a few waves including an established surf break), https://www.samoatourism.org/articles/605/kitesurfing-new-way-to-experience-samoas-waters (official tourism: south-east trades May–October; lessons are held at Sataoa, not here), OpenStreetMap for the Vaiula Beach Fales and Nu'usafe'e coordinates. No source shows beginners being taught on this lagoon, so the beginner label is withheld. Wind strength in knots and the sector split are my own estimates. Water table: seatemperature.org Apia monthly averages. Windy links are searches and maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- Downwind runs to the island need boat support — don't set out without it
- Deep water close to the launch, unlike the shallow teaching lagoon at Sataoa
- An established surf break and rolling waves around Nu'usafe'e — for riders who can handle them
- Coral and reef around the island — reef shoes recommended
- November to April is cyclone season