Reefwander
Split over-under view of a New Caledonia coral reef with a lagoon islet above the waterline

New Caledonia · France · Wall · Reef

Spot aux surfeurs

A sheltered 6 m plateau with a wall dropping to 60 m

Area photo: Jean Rerêve · CC BY-SA 4.0

A site in a false pass, sheltered from wind and swell, where a plateau at 6 m ends in a drop-off that falls to 60 m. The shelter and the shallow plateau are what make it useful: the listing puts it down as ideal for beginners, experienced divers and training alike, with the plateau and the wall giving each something different.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Spot aux surfeurs: typical dive to 6 m (to 20 ft), deepest point 60 m (197 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit6 m60 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 70 m (230 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

22.3310° S, 166.2217° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The plateau is at 6 m and the drop-off starts at its edge, running down to 60 m, so the site divides neatly: shallow ground for anyone who wants it, and a wall for divers who want to go and look over the edge. Most dives work the plateau, follow the lip of the drop-off in one direction, and come back over the top for the shallow part of the dive and the ascent.

It sits in a false pass sheltered from the wind and swell, and the listing puts beginners, experienced divers and training on the same site — the shelter is what makes that possible. Nothing about the shallow section is demanding; the discipline is at the edge, where 60 m of open water starts immediately below and the maximum depth has to be a decision made before the dive rather than during it.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Spot aux surfeurs
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGood

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 drop-off beside the plateau goes to 60 m with nothing to stop a descent — agree a maximum depth before entering and hold it.

Sources

  1. Spot aux surfeurs — SSI/Scubago

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