Scuba Diving in New Caledonia

Explore 101 dive sites and 12 dive centres in New Caledonia. Conditions, marine life, and the best time to dive.

New Caledonia Diving at a Glance

4 dive regions, 101 dive sites, 12 dive centres, 708 marine species recorded.

Travel Advisories for New Caledonia

UK FCDO: See travel advice before travelling.

Best Time to Dive in New Caledonia

The best months to dive in New Caledonia are January, February, March, based on water temperature, visibility, wave conditions, and currents.

Month-by-Month Diving Conditions

  • January: Great, water 27.4°C, current 12.3 cm/s
  • February: Great, water 27.8°C, current 10.1 cm/s
  • March: Great, water 27.8°C, current 7.6 cm/s
  • April: Great, water 27.1°C, current 7.8 cm/s
  • May: Great, water 25.4°C, current 3.7 cm/s
  • June: Great, water 24.4°C, current 4.8 cm/s
  • July: Great, water 23.6°C, current 3.8 cm/s
  • August: Great, water 23.1°C, current 7 cm/s
  • September: Great, water 23.6°C, current 7.7 cm/s
  • October: Great, water 24.4°C, current 7.4 cm/s
  • November: Great, water 25.7°C, current 11.2 cm/s
  • December: Great, water 27°C, current 14.3 cm/s

Recommended Packing List for New Caledonia

Based on average water temperature of 25.6°C, currents 8 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Dive Regions