New Caledonia · France · Wall · Reef
Sea Horse
A rich plateau at 10 m above a drop-off that falls to 60 m
Area photo: Jean Rerêve · CC BY-SA 4.0
A site on the outer side of the Dumbéa pass where a rich plateau at 10 m runs out and turns into a drop-off falling to 60 m. The plateau and the top of the wall are the dive; the 60 m figure is where the drop-off ends rather than a target. The listing records the site as subject to both swell and current.
Where it is and how deep
22.3419° S, 166.2307° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The working part of the site is the plateau at 10 m, which is where the growth is and where most of the dive is spent. From there the ground rolls over into a drop-off that continues down to 60 m — well beyond a recreational plan — so the usual shape is a look along the upper wall early in the dive, then back onto the plateau for the long shallow section and the ascent.
Exposure is the thing to watch here. The site is subject to swell and current, and it sits on the outer side of the pass where both are felt. Stay in contact with the reef, keep the group tight, and set a hard maximum depth before you go over the plateau edge, because there is nothing under it to stop a descent until 60 m.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good |
Season follows New Caledonia: Sep–Dec is warmest and clearest before the wet season; Jan–Mar is cyclone season, and winter water drops to about 21°C.
Know before you go
- The site is subject to swell and current, and it is on the exposed outer side of the pass — conditions can make it undiveable at short notice.
- The drop-off runs to 60 m immediately below the plateau, so agree a maximum depth before descending past the edge.
Sources
- sea horse — SSI/Scubago
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