Scuba diving locations in New Caledonia:

• Tenia has beautful drops of 50 metres, covered by many types of soft coral. The sealife is well-preserved here, with dolphins and schools of fish.
• Hienghene, on the east coast of the main island, has diverse diving with excellent visibility in good conditions. Caves, tunnels and swim-throughs offer hard and soft corals of every colour.

When to scuba dive in New Caledonia:

The water is warm all year, but there are occasional cyclones, most frequently from November to March, when the wet season can cause run off, reducing visibility somewhat.

Local standards for gear:

The best scuba diving spots in New Caledonia:

• Satan's Cave in the Isle of Pines is a fresh water underground cave which can only be reached by a narrow underwater corridor.
• The Needle of Prony is an enormous stalagmite with a height of 38 metres, with the sealife clinging to its sides differing with depth.

The best spots to snorkel in New Caledonia:

Fun scuba facts:

Country data:

Administrative details

• Currency: CFP franc (XFP)
• Population: is about 250,000 (2009)
• Time Zone: (GMT+11)
• Main languages spoken: French, New Caledonian languages, Loyalty Island languages, Tayo ## Diveable overseas territories: France

New Caledonian diving federations:

Local diving laws and regulations (and PADI-equivalent certifications):

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