Dumbea Passe

Dumbea Passe ranks in 1st place on the list of the best places for scuba diving in New Caledonia. This is in fact three dive sites in one. On one side of the channel, a site called Canyon Fossil has varied and abundant life, with giant gorgonian sea fans. In season, the channel itself plays host to hundreds of groupers that aggregate in small caverns during their mating season. On the opposite side of the channel at M’Bere Reef, there’s abundant fish life alongside black corals, steep canyons, and a large World War II submarine mine. You’ll very likely see sharks, including grey reefs, whitetips, leopard sharks, hammerheads, and blacktips.

There are lots of grey reef sharks in June and the groupers lay their eggs during November and December. You’ll find the groupers in caverns at about 13 m. The dives are often drifted dives with reasonable currents and are suitable for experienced divers.

Location: Noumea, New Caledonia