Chimney - Niue West Coast
Chimney is just plain fun. We think it’s one of Niue’s most iconic dives, and for good reason. It’s a vertical shaft, dropping from about eight metres down to 25. As you descend, the light shafts from above are incredible, carving through the water in shimmering columns. The walls are covered in corals, though not the big plates you might see elsewhere. Here, it’s more about the smaller, intricate stuff, lots of little critters tucked into every crevice. We’ve spotted countless Red-streaked Blennies peeking out, and the flash of a Lemon Peel angelfish always catches our eye. This site is an intermediate dive; you’ll want to be comfortable with buoyancy as you navigate the shaft. It’s not tight, but you’re in an enclosed space for a bit. Our advice? Go in the morning. That’s when the light show is at its best. Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks cruising the deeper exit, and don't forget to look up as you ascend – the view back towards the surface is fantastic. It’s a short dive, often paired with something else nearby, but it packs a punch.
- Location
- Niue West Coast, Niue, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -19.040000, -169.920000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 8-25m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Vailoapu-Namoui
Best Time to Dive in Niue West Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Niue West Coast occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- February: 27.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- March: 27.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
- April: 27.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- May: 27.4°C (air: 26.1°C)
- June: 27.4°C (air: 25.1°C)
- July: 27.4°C (air: 24.5°C)
- August: 27.4°C (air: 23.9°C)
- September: 27.4°C (air: 24.3°C)
- October: 27.4°C (air: 24.6°C)
- November: 27.4°C (air: 25.4°C)
- December: 27.4°C (air: 26.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Niue West Coast
- Antiope Reef (reef)
- Bubble Cave - 5-15m (cave)
- Snake Gully - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Chimney
- Niue Blue - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Niue West Coast
Home to 189 recorded species including 143 reef fish, 21 hard corals, 8 sea cucumbers, 8 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sea urchins, 2 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Princess Parrotfish (Scarus forsteni) - Reef Fish
- Banded-tail Coral-cod (Cephalopholis urodeta) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Black Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Blue-banded Pualu (Acanthurus blochii) - Reef Fish
- Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles) - Reef Fish
- Four-spot butterfly (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Black Butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus) - Reef Fish
- Humphead wrasse (Coris aygula) - Reef Fish
- Boomerang triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Bucktooth (Calotomus carolinus) - Reef Fish
- Gendarme Fish (Acanthurus olivaceus) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Chimney
Based on average water temperature of 27.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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