Snake Gully - Niue West Coast
Snake Gully is exactly what it sounds like. We love it for the sheer density of yellow-lipped sea kraits, those banded snakes that are surprisingly graceful in the water, slipping in and out of the cracks in the coral. You’ll find them draped over staghorn coral, poking their heads out from under table corals, or often just swimming alongside you, completely unbothered. It's an intermediate dive, largely due to the currents that can pick up, but the depth range of 5-20m keeps it accessible. We’ve found the best time to go is usually mid-morning when the sun hits the gully just right, illuminating the blues and purples of the corals. Keep an eye out for the Blotcheye Soldierfish tucked into crevices and the flash of Bluelined Surgeonfish as they graze. It’s a site for those who appreciate a unique interaction and aren't fazed by being surrounded by a few dozen elegant, venomous reptiles.
- Location
- Niue West Coast, Niue, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -19.050000, -169.930000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
- 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)
- Chimney - 8-25m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Snake Gully
- 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 Snake Gully
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