Récif Prony - Prony Bay

Stella Maris, often just called the Ocean Encounters house reef, is a fantastic spot if you're staying at Lions Dive or even just looking for an easy shore dive. We love that it’s right inside the Marine Park, which helps keep things looking good, and it’s shallow enough that you can easily spend an hour or more poking around. The maximum depth is only about 14 metres, making it super approachable for newer divers or even snorkelers. While it doesn't have dramatic walls, the reef here is surprisingly lively. We often find ourselves just drifting along, spotting things like Redlip Blennies perched on sponges, or the shy Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish doing its best impression of a rock. The finger corals and lettuce corals add a nice texture to the landscape. Look closely and you might even catch a glimpse of a Harlequin Brittle Star tucked into a crevice. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light really brings out the colours of the corals and the iridescent scales of the Brown Chromis darting about. It’s a great site for a relaxed dive, good for getting back in the water or just enjoying an easy afternoon.

Location
Prony Bay, New Caledonia, Australasia
Coordinates
-22.262900, 166.329600
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Michael Corbasson

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Récif Prony

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

Recommended Packing List for Récif Prony

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