Les tunnels d’Actinéria - Loyalty Islands
Nudibranch City, tucked away on the far side of Motu Kapiti, delivers exactly what it promises. We love how the relatively shallow reef here, maxing out at 20m, really lets you slow down and hunt. The steep walls still dominate, but pockets of shallower, sun-drenched coral provide perfect hunting grounds for those tiny, colourful slugs. We’ve spent entire dives just meticulously combing over a few square metres, spotting species we rarely see elsewhere. Keep your eyes peeled on those vibrant walls – you'll often find Mimic Blennies peeking out or the Flash-footed Shearwaters swooping overhead. The sheer variety of nudibranchs is what makes it a standout; it’s a site for those who appreciate the small wonders, for photographers wanting to get up close and personal, and anyone who enjoys a calm, rewarding search.
- Location
- Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -20.833400, 165.400700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Povilla Forest Reserve
Best Time to Dive in Loyalty Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Loyalty Islands occur in February, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 24.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C
- February: 28.2°C
- March: 28.1°C
- April: 27.6°C
- May: 26.3°C
- June: 25.4°C
- July: 24.7°C
- August: 24.2°C
- September: 24.5°C
- October: 25.2°C
- November: 26.4°C
- December: 27.6°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Loyalty Islands
- Aquarium (reef)
- Aquarium
- Arche aux gorgonnes (reef)
- Arche aux gorgonnes (reef)
- bargibenti (reef)
- Carouso Mio (drift)
- Centre de plongée de Babou
- Chemin des écoliers (reef)
- Dahab de Nous (reef)
- Eagle Paradise (wreck)
- Faille de Poe (wreck)
- FRANCE II - 0m (wreck)
- Grand coude de Kele (reef)
- grande passe (reef)
- Green Turtle (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Les tunnels d’Actinéria
Marine Life in Loyalty Islands
Home to 129 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 11 sea cucumbers, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 clams & mussels, 4 sharks & rays, 3 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Chestnut Blenny (Cirripectes castaneus) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Humphead Unicornfish (Naso unicornis) - Reef Fish
- Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- dusky farmerfish (Stegastes nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-axil wrasse (Stethojulis bandanensis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Leopard Blenny (Exallias brevis) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Blackspotted Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) - Sea Cucumbers
Recommended Packing List for Les tunnels d’Actinéria
Based on average water temperature of 26.3°C, currents 10 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