Centre de plongée de Babou

Best months: Jan–Dec

Protected Area

Lagons de Nouvelle-Calédonie : diversité récifale et écosystèmes associés

Why dive here

With 116+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, eagle rays, great white sharks, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays) - Centre de plongée de Babou offers some of Loyalty Islands's richest diving. Water ranges 24-28°C, warmest January, February, March.

Marine lifeDugongs, Eagle Rays, Great White Sharks, Manta Rays and Mobula Rays (Devil Rays) · 116+ species recorded

Water24-28°C · warmest January, February, March

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Babou. Just saying the name brings back the smell of salt and sun. We’ve logged a few dives here over the years, and it always delivers a proper punch of Pacific action. It's not about big swim-throughs or dramatic walls; Babou is all about the little things, the stuff you’d miss if you weren’t really looking. We’ve spent entire dives just mesmerised by the sheer volume of molluscs – the Variable Stromb crawling along, Dwarf Planaxis clinging to rocks, and you’ll spot Coral Cerith everywhere. Keep your eyes peeled for the unusual – we once saw a pigmy sperm whale here, a fleeting glimpse that still gives us chills. Manta rays cruise through, too, though they’re not an everyday sight. What we really love about Babou is that feeling of discovery. It’s a site that rewards patience, perfect for macro enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys slowing down. Dive it in the morning, before the sun gets too high, for the best light on the corals.