La Diéppoise, wreck - Prony Bay
The MV Antipolis is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to, mainly because it's so accessible and always delivers a good time. You kick out about 60 metres from shore, then drop down onto the main deck around 7 metres. What we love about the Antipolis is how much of it you can still explore. The hull is largely intact, with big, open sections that let you swim right inside. Sunlight filters through gaps, illuminating schools of strepies and hottentot darting between the beams. As you follow the wreck deeper, it slopes to 20 metres at high tide, offering more to see. The kelp surrounding the wreck isn't just scenery, it's a bustling neighbourhood. Look for puffadder sharks and shy pajama sharks tucked away in the fronds. We’ve found crayfish tucked into every crack and crevice, too. This isn't a deep, technical dive, which is why we think it’s perfect for divers wanting a relaxed wreck experience without the faff of a boat trip. Visibility averages around 8 metres, which is plenty for appreciating the scale of the wreck and the life it now supports.
- Location
- Prony Bay, New Caledonia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -22.481100, 166.441900
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Parc du lagon sud: Ilot Amedee et Grand Recif Abore
Best Time to Dive in Prony Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Prony Bay occur in February, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 22.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.0°C
- February: 27.4°C
- March: 27.4°C
- April: 26.5°C
- May: 24.6°C
- June: 23.4°C
- July: 22.5°C
- August: 22.0°C
- September: 22.6°C
- October: 23.6°C
- November: 25.0°C
- December: 26.5°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Prony Bay
- Aiguille de Prony (pinnacle)
- Aiguille du Prony - 1 (pinnacle)
- Boulari Plateau Manta (drift)
- Boulari Plateau Manta (wall)
- Corne de Tenia
- Epave du Snark (wreck)
- épave du snark (reef)
- épave du Umbolt (reef)
- Ever Propérity (reef)
- EVER PROSPERITY - 0m (wreck)
- EVER PROSPERITY - 0m (wreck)
- Extasy (cave)
- Fausse passe de Uitoé (reef)
- Forêt du Snark (reef)
- Grotte a Jean-Claude (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to La Diéppoise, wreck
Marine Life in Prony Bay
Home to 84 recorded species including 62 reef fish, 7 sea cucumbers, 4 sharks & rays, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 clams & mussels.
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
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-axil wrasse (Stethojulis bandanensis) - Reef Fish
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Striated Locust Lobster (Eduarctus martensii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Blue Sprat (Spratelloides gracilis) - Reef Fish
- Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Whales & Dolphins
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma lutescens) - Reef Fish
- Leopard Blenny (Exallias brevis) - Reef Fish
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
Recommended Packing List for La Diéppoise, wreck
Based on average water temperature of 24.9°C, currents 6 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°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