Diving & Water Sports

1. Ou te mana'o e tofu i lalo o le sami.

   I'd like to go scuba diving.

   Usage

   Used to request a scuba diving experience

   Grammar Note

   To dive is tofu (the derivative tagitofu "to bleed from the nose and ears after diving" shares the stem). i lalo = downward/underwater, sami = sea/saltwater. The word 'au means "to send" or "stalk, handle, troop, shoal" — never dive or swim. To swim is 'a'au; to swim under water / creep under is maulu. tofu also has a homonym "to be distributed to each", but the following i lalo o le sami fixes the diving sense

2. E mana'omia se pepa fa'amaonia mo le tofu i lalo?

   Is a diving certification required?

   Usage

   Used to ask about certification requirements

   Grammar Note

   e mana'omia = is needed/required. mana'omia is the passive of mana'o (to want/need)

3. 'O fea e mafai ai ona ou nono'o se 'ofuvae sami?

   Where can I rent a wetsuit?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to rent a wetsuit

   Grammar Note

   'ofuvae = lower garment/swimwear. sami = sea. Together = wetsuit/sea garment

4. E fia le loloto o lenei nofoaga?

   How deep is this dive site?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the depth of a dive site

   Grammar Note

   loloto = deep/depth. e fia = how many/how much (asks quantity). e fia le loloto = how deep is it?

5. E iai ni malie po'o ni isi manu mata'utia?

   Are there sharks or dangerous marine animals?

   Usage

   Used to ask about sharks and dangerous marine life

   Grammar Note

   malie = shark. mata'utia = fearsome/dangerous. po'o = or (conjunction)

6. E lelei le tulaga mo le tofu i lalo i le aso nei?

   Are conditions good for diving today?

   Usage

   Used to check if conditions are suitable for diving

   Grammar Note

   tulaga = situation/conditions/status. e lelei le tulaga = conditions are good

7. Ou te mana'o e fa'ata'ita'i le snorkeling.

   I'd like to try snorkeling.

   Usage

   Used to request a snorkeling experience

   Grammar Note

   fa'ata'ita'i = to try/practice. snorkeling is used as an English loanword

8. E mafai ona ou fa'amautu se va'a tofu i lalo?

   Can I book a boat dive?

   Usage

   Used to book a boat diving trip

   Grammar Note

   fa'amautu = to fix/secure/book. va'a = boat/canoe (traditional outrigger canoe)

9. 'O fea le 'akoga o kolale?

   Where is the coral reef?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a coral reef

   Grammar Note

   'akoga = place/location. kolale = coral in Samoan

10. 'O a'u 'o se tagata tofu i lalo ua fa'amaonia — PADI Open Water.

    I'm a certified diver — PADI Open Water.

    Usage

    Used to show your diving certification

    Grammar Note

    'o a'u 'o se = I am a (identity statement). The second 'o is the presentative particle too ("'O a'u 'o le tagata, I am a man")

11. Ou te mana'o i se a'oa'oga surfing.

    I'd like a surfing lesson.

    Usage

    Used to request a surfing lesson

    Grammar Note

    a'oa'oga = lesson/teaching (noun form of a'oa'o = to teach)

12. 'O le a le tulaga o le au?

    What are the current / tide conditions?

    Usage

    Used to check current and tidal conditions

    Grammar Note

    au = current/stream/flow — context-dependent meaning

13. 'O le a le fa'ailoga mo ni fa'alavelave i lalo o le vai?

    What is the emergency signal underwater?

    Usage

    Used during pre-dive safety briefing

    Grammar Note

    fa'alavelave = trouble/emergency/ceremony depending on context

14. Ou te mana'o e nono'o se papa fa'aaveave.

    I'd like to rent a surfboard.

    Usage

    Used to rent a surfboard

    Grammar Note

    papa = flat board/slab. fa'aaveave = to surf on waves (causative form)

15. E mafai ona tofu i lalo i le po?

    Is night diving available?

    Usage

    Used to ask if night diving is offered

    Grammar Note

    i le po = at night (temporal prepositional phrase)

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