Scuba Diving Ils de Pins, New Caledonia

Dive Site: Le Sand Bank

Location: Ils de Pins, New Caledonia

Description: Reef / drift

Depth: 21 metres to drop off (69 feet)

Visibility: 30 metres + (100 feet)

The reef system surrounding New Caledonia is the second largest barrier reef in the world, with only the Great Barrier Reef covering more area. The Sand Bank is a stunning example of a pristine site where a large reef section lies on a sand bank. Beautiful coral and great viz on this dive are almost a certainty. At a depth of 20 metres the coral plateau below one comes across undamaged acropora, stony corals and huge gorgonian fan corals swaying on the outer reef. On both sides of the coral bank an inviting drop-off is patrolled by grey reef sharks and white-tip sharks. There was a reasonable swell even at 10 metres and the current makes this an excellent site for a drift dive.

Scuba Diving Ils de Pins, New Caledonia – Jardin d’Eden, Ils de Pins, New Caledonia

Dive Site: Jardin d’Eden

Location: Ils de Pins, New Caledonia

Description: Reef

Depth: 11 – 45 metres ( feet)

Visibility: 30 metres + (100 feet)

Jardin d’Eden is an aptly named dive site. Essentially a series of fissures atop the expansive coral reef, depth undulates in a series of canyons and grottos before dropping away at the main reef wall. Some of the canyons themselves are as deep as 50 metres. There are tunnels and swim-throughs all teeming with life and the hard coral covering the upper reef is stunningly colourful with layers of acropora straining for position. Marine life consists of nurse shark, impressive gorgonian fans and large sponges. At 3 metre grey reef shark cruise through the gullies. Then there are several smaller white-tip sharks. At 14 metres there is an opening in the reef and an ascent through a chimney densely packed with glassfish and bright orange anthias, who seemed surprised at the disturbance. Here humpback whales can also be encountered.