Toho V (Wreck) - Prony Bay
Barra Reef, just a short boat ride from Tofo, feels like swimming through an enormous, warm fish tank. At a maximum depth of 12 metres, it’s a brilliant choice for newer divers or those who just want to soak up the sun and spend some serious bottom time. We love the sheer density of reef fish here. Clouds of Blue and Gold Fusiliers often obscure the reef entirely, parting just enough for a Half-circled Angelfish or a curious Limespot Butterflyfish to peek through. While Barra is famous for its manta ray and whale shark encounters – and yes, we've had some cracking ones here – what often gets overlooked are the resident guitar sharks and leopard sharks lounging on the sand patches. Our favourite time to dive Barra is early morning, before the thermoclines kick in and the visibility is at its best, usually around 15-20 metres. Be mindful of the surge though; it can be quite active, making it a bit of a workout for photographers trying to get that perfect shot of a cruising Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel. It’s a genuinely joyful dive, full of light and life.
- Location
- Prony Bay, New Caledonia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -22.482800, 166.444600
- Type
- reef
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 Toho V (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 Toho V (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