Amédée Lighthouse
This site, located only 200 meter away from the lighthouse beach, is easily accessible, is. It is a shallow area, 5 to 6 meter deep, with a white sand bottom scattered with coral patches. This area has been a marine reservation for the last 20 years and is bursting with marine life. Encounters with white-tip sharks are common. Encounters with surgeonfish, spangled Emperors and entire schools of groupers are guaranteed! A truly beautiful tour, just a few strokes away from a tree-shaded island offering a comfortable refuge (fresh water and toilets).
Right in the middle of a series of basins on the great-barrier-reef, the old cargo ship lying in crystal clear waters (most of the time) offers a grandiose colorful show. The fauna, either fixed or passing by, like spotted eagle rays or sharks is definitely worth the trip! And this… in only a few meters of water.
Larégnère Island
One of the closest sites from Noumea; ideal for a half-day excursion in the trade winds (South-East dominant breeze). The coral reef is well preserved and well inhabited. Rays and leopard sharks are often seen in this neighborhood.
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Maitre Island
Even very close to Noumea the seabed is definitely not lacking fauna. Near Maitre Island, it is not rare to met gigantic trevallies (Caranx ignobilis), white-tip sharks and even sometimes dugongs! 20 mns of navigation and you will be transported into a complete different atmosphere and enjoy a snorkeling experience.
Signal Island
Well sheltered from the dominant winds (South-East) by the island itself, the fringing reef of Signal Island is an awe-inspiring marine reservation. The quantity and diversity of fish is awe-inspiring: spangled emperors, brownstripe red snappers, bluespine unicorn fish, groupers… are concentrated on the edge of the reef at a depth of 8 meters. The island itself is perfect for a break and sun bathing after a snorkeling tour, but the most energetic are welcome to follow the nature trail.
Dumbéa pass
This site, only a few hundred meters away from the pass, on the inside, can be challenging because of the currents but the show is more than worthwhile. Fauna and flora are particularly rich. Everything is there, between 0 and 12 meters, from the turtle to the giant humpback unicornfish, without forgetting schools of midnight perches, humphead wrasses and the giant grouper!
Tabou reef
A mile away from the Amédée Lighthouse Island, this reef just at the entrance of the Boulari pass is well sheltered from the dominant winds. Starting at 4 or 5 meters, it slowing gets deeper, and ends with a coral wall down to 18 meters. A marine reservation since 1992, this site offers a very rich fauna: schools of bluespine unicornfish, humpback unicornfish, groupers and a few turtles who took up residence of the nearby seagrass meadow. Only 50 meters away, the wreck of the “CALEDONIE TOHO 5” lays by 27 meters; a fascinating sight from the surface and a challenge for the most adventurous.