CALEDONIE TOHO III
Protected Area
Yves Merlet
Why dive here
With 147+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, eagle rays, great white sharks, humpback whales and manta rays - CALEDONIE TOHO III offers some of Isle of Pines's richest wreck diving.
Some wrecks are just chunks of metal. The *Caledonie Toho III*, though, feels like a ghost. This old fishing vessel, broken and scattered across the sandy bottom, is one of our favourites around Isle of Pines for its sheer atmospheric charm. What's left of the hull sits upright, creating shadows and overhangs perfect for curious divers. We love poking into the nooks, imagining the crew's last moments as the ocean slowly reclaims their ship. Look for the big schools of surgeonfish swirling around the rusted mast, almost blending in with the blue. You’ll find plenty of inquisitive sweetlips peering out from under the broken decking, and we’ve spotted moray eels tucked deep inside the more intact sections. Visibility here is usually excellent, letting you appreciate the scale of the wreck, even with its broken lines. We’d suggest going slow, really letting your eyes adjust to the details. It’s not a deep dive, making it ideal for longer bottom times and really exploring without rushing.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
CALEDONIE TOHO III Wreck History
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
grounding
The Caledonie Toho III is a modern fishing vessel that fell victim to the treacherous reefs surrounding the stunning Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. Likely a long-liner or tuna boat, as suggested by the Japanese 'Toho' in its name, it ran aground and was abandoned. The vessel could not be salvaged and was left to the elements, becoming a permanent, picturesque feature on the reef.
With a depth of 0 metres, the wreck sits with its hull and superstructure partially exposed above the turquoise water, making it a fantastic and easily accessible site for snorkelers and photographers. The submerged sections of the hull have become an artificial reef, attracting schools of colourful reef fish and the beginnings of coral growth. It's a striking sight, with the rusting, man-made structure contrasting beautifully against the vibrant natural backdrop of the New Caledonian lagoon.
Reviews for CALEDONIE TOHO III
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for CALEDONIE TOHO III
CALEDONIE TOHO III Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for CALEDONIE TOHO III, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (-22.5, 167.37) (0km away)
August Averages
Air Temperature
20.77°C
69°F
Wind Speed
7 m/s
13.6 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1018.3 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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