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Isle of Pines · New Caledonia · Wall · Reef

Gorgonian Valley

A heart-shaped swim-through inside a forest of gorgonian fans

Gorgonian Valley is a V-shaped valley near Gadji Pass at the northern end of the Isle of Pines, with numerous faults and forests of gorgonians and soft corals. Divers go for the fans, the leopard sharks and the chance of finding pygmy seahorses, an animal first found off New Caledonia.

Also known as Vallée des Gorgones, Vallee de Gorgones, Vallée de Gorgones.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Gorgonian Valley: typical dive 10–35 m (33–115 ft), deepest point 50 m (164 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m35 m50 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 60 m (197 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

22.5467° S, 167.4288° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The sheer wall drops from 10 m to 35 m, with a heart-shaped swim-through and a dense stand of gorgonian fans and soft corals along the valley; the valley's steep, sloping profile runs on to 50 m. Visibility can top 30 m, but a good light brings out the colours on the fans. Pygmy seahorses can turn up here, and the site is known for its leopard sharks.

Marine life and season

  • Pygmy seahorses
Month-by-month season rating for Gorgonian Valley
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrime

Season follows Isle of Pines: Boats run all year; the water stays above 24 °C (76 °F) from November to May and is coolest in August.

Dive videos

Plongée Île des Pins avec Kunie Scuba Center · Kunie Scuba Center on YouTube

Questions divers ask

What certification does Gorgonian Valley on the Isle of Pines need?+

Deep training: the wall runs from 10 m to 35 m, and the slope below continues to 50 m.

Sources

  1. Beyond The Garden Of Eden: Diving New Caledonia's Isle Of Pines — Just Gotta Dive
  2. Diving in the lagoon — New Caledonia Tourism
  3. Kunie Scuba Center, Isle of Pines — DivePlanit
  4. Destination Spotlight: Isle of Pines — Choose Your Cruise
  5. Baie de Gadji — OpenStreetMap

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