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Your most up to date online guide to Tonga since 2004. Vava'u: 18°41' 60 S 174°1' 60 W |
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Visitor Facts for visiting in Vava'u Islands, Tonga
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I Live in Vava'u!
Residents of Vava'u in the Kingdom of Tonga may be interested in the following groups.
Vavau Tourism Association (VTA)The VTA has been formed for the purpose of promoting Tourism in Vava'u and in particular:
a) To co-ordinate the services and facilities of persons engaged in the Tourist, Travel and Accommodation Industries in Tonga whereby Vava'u and the Kingdom is better developed as a holiday destination.
b) To foster and encourage the improvement of Tourist facilities within Vava'u.
c) To publish brochures, articles and other information detailing the services and facilities available for Tourists within Vava'u and the Kingdom for the purpose of improving and increasing visitors traffic.
d) To make such recommendations to Tourism Tonga Inc as it may think fit for attaining these purposes.
e) To maintain a line of communication from the Executive Committee to the VTA Members, Tourism Tonga Inc and all relevant Government departments.
f) To do all such things as may be necessary to ensure the attainment of the above objectives
Our yearly membership fee is T$50 and is used in accordance with all of the above.
The Vava'u Sport Fishing Club (VSFC)
Background Information
In the early 1990's the Tonga International Game Fish Association (TIGFA) was established to facilitate local and visitor catch records. As the sport developed, Nukualofa and Vava'u Sport fishing Clubs were established in July 2002 to record local records and TIGFA became the parent association responsible for National Records and one tournament event – the Tonga Nationals held in December each year. TIGFA and the local clubs are affiliated to IGFA and follow strict international angling rules.Tonga is blessed with world class fishing – Blue Marlin (Pacific), Black Marlin and Striped Marlin, Sailfish (Pacific), Skipjack Tuna, Yellow Fin and pelagic species such as Mahimahi, Tuna, Wahoo (Valu Louniu) and a host of reef species including Dog Tooth Tuna (valu Tonga) and Giant Trevally (GT).
Other fish include; Kawa Kawa (Mackeral Tuna), Baracuda (‘Ono), Coral Trout, Dolphin Fish, Grouper, Job Fish (utu), Long Tom (haku), Spanish Mackeral, Ranbow Runner, Roundtail Seabream (mu), Hammerhead Shark, Mako Shark, Oceanic Whitetip, Shortbill Spearfish, Bluefin Trevally (lupo), Big Eye Tuna, Snapper Emporer, Emporer Spangled (koango), Queenfish.
Tonga holds the following of IGFA world records:
1, Men's 24kg line class for a 94kg Sailfish
2. Small Fry - Sailfish 55kg
3. Women's 15kg line class for a 38.4kg GTVSFC_-_2009_Catch_Records(1).xls
VHF Calling Procedures
A VHF is not a toy - if you do not know how to use it properly do not do so unless in an emergency. Use proper calling procedures at all times - heavy fines exist for misuse and hoax calls.
Standard procedure for a non-emergency call such as calling another vessel, marina, or restaurant to ask where to tie up for dinner, is as follows.
You should call the vessel, marina or restaurant on channel 9 or 16 in the following manner. Name of station being called, spoken three times. The words "THIS IS", spoken once. Name of your vessel and call sign (if you have a station license) or boat registration number, spoken once. The word "OVER". Then you wait for the station being called to answer. Their answer should be in the same manner as your call. Once answered you should suggest going to a working channel to carry on your conversation. The word "OVER". Wait for reply and confirmation from the station being called, switch to the working channel and repeat the process. EMERGENCY Calls
Any message prefixed by one of the following pro-words concerns Safety. If you receive a message beginning with one of them pay particular attention and if possible write it down. Always allow at least 3 minutes for Search and Rescue to reply before responding.
MAYDAY Means that a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
MAYDAY RELAY Means that the calling station is passing on a message from a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
PAN-PAN Means that the calling station has an urgent message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s.
PAN-PAN MEDICO Means that the calling station is in need of medical assistance or advice.
SECURITE Means that the calling station has a message concerning the safety of navigation or giving important meteorological warnings.
The following pro-words will be transmitted if you disturb the transmissions during a distress situation
SEELONCE MAYDAY Means that the controlling station, in a distress situation is telling you to begin and maintain radio silence. On receipt of this message you must cease transmissions.
SEELONCE DISTRESS Means that a ship station (that may be involved in a distress situation) is telling you to begin and maintain radio silence. On receipt of this message you must cease transmissions.
MAYDAY
You may only have seconds to send a distress call. Here's what you do. Transmit, in this order:
If you have an HF radiotelephone tuned to 2182 kHz, send the radiotelephone alarm signal if one is available. If you have a VHF marine radio, tune it to channel 16. Unless you know you are outside VHF range of shore and ships, call on channel 16 first. Distress signal "MAYDAY", spoken three times. The words "THIS IS", spoken once. Name of vessel in distress (spoken three times) and call sign or boat registration number, spoken once. Repeat "MAYDAY" and name of vessel, spoken once. Give position of vessel by latitude or longitude or by bearing (true or magnetic, state which) and distance to a well-know landmark such as a navigational aid or small island, or in any terms which will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress. Include any information on vessel movement such as course, speed and destination. Nature of distress (sinking, fire etc.). Kind of assistance desired. Number of persons onboard. Any other information which might facilitate rescue, such as length or tonnage of vessel, number of persons needing medical attention, color hull, cabin, masks, etc. The word "OVER" Listen for response. Stay by the radio if possible. Even after the message has been received, Search and Rescue can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal on which a rescue boat or aircraft can home in. Use Pan-Pan when the safety of a person or vessel is in jeopardy but the danger is not life threatening Transmit at high power on Channel 16 Most radios will Automatically go to high power for Ch 16.
If you have an HF radiotelephone tuned to 2182 kHz, send the radiotelephone alarm signal if one is available. If you have a VHF marine radio, tune it to channel 16. Unless you know you are outside VHF range of shore and ships, call on channel 16 first. "PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN" ALL-SHIPS 3 times OR Coastguard 3 times THIS IS (craft name 3 times) MY POSITION IS (your location) Nature of Distress Nature of Assistance required Number of people Any other relevant information OVER Listen for response Repeat at intervals until an answer is received What do you do if you hear a distress call?
If you hear a distress message from a vessel and it is not answered, then you must answer. If you are reasonably sure that the distressed vessel is not in your vicinity, you should wait a short time for others to acknowledge. Arrange necessary response - medical or marine support.
Phonetic alphabet & Figure-Spelling Tables (May be used when transmitting plain language or code) Letter Word Pronounced as
A Alfa ALFAH
B Bravo BRAH VOH
C Charlie CHAR LEE
D Delta DELL TAH
E Echo ECK OH
F Foxtrot FOKS TROT
G Golf GOLF
H Hotel HOH TELL
I India IN DEE AH
J Juliet JEW LEE ETT
K Kilo KEY LOH
L Lima LEE MAH
M Mike MIKE
N November NO VEM BER
O Oscar OSS CAH
P Papa PAH PAH
Q Quebec KEH BECK
R Romeo ROW ME OH
S Sierra SEE AIR RAH
T Tango TANG GO
U Uniform YOU NEE FORM
V Victor VIK TAH
W Whiskey WISS KEY
X X-ray ECKS RAY
Y Yankee YANG KEY
Z Zulu ZOO LOONOTE: The syllables to be emphasized are in bold.
Figure or mark to be transmitted Word Pronounced as
0 NADAZERO NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH
1 UNAONE OO-NAH-WUN
2 BISSOTWO BEES-SOH-TOO
3 TERRATHREE TAY-RAM-TREE
4 KARTEFOUR KAR-TAY-FOWER
5 PANTAFIVE PAN-TAM-FIVE
6 SOXISIX SOK-SEE-SIX
7 SE1lESSEVEN SAY-TAY-SEVEN
8 OKTOEIGHT OK-TOH-AIT
9 NOVENINE NO-VAY-NINER
Decimal Point DECIMAL DAY-SEE-MAL
Full Stop STOP STOPNOTE: Each syllable should be equally emphasized.
OVER = Mesage ends, reply requested
OUT = Message ends, no reply requested
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