Classroom lesson Β· Piula Cave Pool Β· πŸ‡ΌπŸ‡Έ Samoa

Piula Cave Pool

A freshwater pool hidden inside a sea cave beneath a church

Photo Β· Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

Piula Cave Pool is a magical freshwater swimming hole hidden inside a sea cave on the north coast of Upolu. What makes it extra special is that it sits right underneath a Methodist church β€” so above the cave there is a quiet church, and below it is a bright blue pool of fresh springwater that local children and visitors love to swim in.

Tell me more

The cave was carved out of the coral rock over thousands of years by the sea. Even though the cave opens onto the ocean, the water inside the pool is actually fresh β€” it comes from natural underground springs in the rock. The pool is always cool and crystal clear.

To enter, you walk down steps through the cave entrance and step into the water. Inside, shafts of blue-green light filter in from where the cave opens to the sea, making the whole pool glow in an eerie and beautiful way. Tiny fish swim around your legs.

The church above, Wesley College, is a real working school. Students who study there are allowed to swim in the cave pool whenever they like. It must be one of the best school swimming spots anywhere in the world!

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01The pool is fresh even though it is inside a sea cave. How do you think underground springs work?
  2. 02Would you feel differently swimming somewhere unusual, like under a church? Why?
  3. 03Samoa has lots of caves and rock pools formed by volcanoes. How might a volcanic island be different from a non-volcanic one?
Try this

Classroom activity

Draw a labelled diagram showing how you think the Piula Cave Pool works. Show: the church and school above, the cave below, the sea outside, the underground spring, and the direction the fresh water travels. Use arrows to show water movement.