Niue · Niue · Cave & cavern · Wall
Chimney
Advanced only: an underwater chimney down to the fireplace
Area photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia · Public domain
The Chimney is a vertical shaft you glide down to arrive in the chamber Niue Dive called the fireplace. A side chamber holds a collection of painted crayfish, and the exit at 28 metres opens onto the island's own 'wreck', a Toyota Land Cruiser and a lawn mower washed off the cliffs in a cyclone. Swim-throughs and gullies fill out the shallow end.
Also known as The Chimney.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Niue and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
You go down the chimney itself, a vertical shaft that delivers you into the chamber the guides call the fireplace. Off it, a side chamber holds a collection of painted crayfish. The exit is at 28 metres, and it opens onto the closest thing Niue has to a wreck: the remains of a Toyota Land Cruiser and a lawn mower, washed off the cliffs above in a cyclone.
From there the dive works back up into the shallows, where swim-throughs and gullies cut into the wall and there is good macro life along the rock for anyone slowing down to look. Niue Dive gave the site as 5 to 30 metres and restricted it to Advanced certification and higher, so the deep section is short and most of the time goes on the shallow end.
Background
Niue Dive called the debris beyond the chimney chamber the island's own 'wreck': the remains of a Toyota Land Cruiser and a lawn mower, washed off the cliffs above in a cyclone. They lie at the chamber exit at 28 metres, and the dive route passes them before working back up to the swim-throughs and gullies in the shallows.
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Niue: Jul-Sep is peak season, combining calm seas with humpback whales; the Nov-Apr cyclone season brings more swell and rougher boat access.
Know before you go
- The route includes a vertical shaft and a chamber whose exit is at 28 metres, so it is an overhead dive with a deep section — Niue Dive limited it to Advanced divers and above.
Dive videos
5th Dive Niue The Chimney · alisonalicat3 on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification do I need for the Chimney?+
Niue Dive listed the site for Advanced certifications and higher only. The profile runs from 5 to 30 metres and includes a vertical shaft and a chamber with its exit at 28 metres.
Sources
- Dive Sites | Niue Dive — Niue Dive (archived via Wayback Machine)
- Scuba Diving Tours — Niue Blue Island Experiences
In The Logbook
- How far you can see underwaterOcean science · 12 min read
- Where to dive in every month of the yearTrip planning · 14 min read
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