L'Arche de Noël - Saint-Gilles & West Coast
L'Arche de Noël on Réunion's west coast offers a gentle introduction to cave diving. At a comfortable 27 meters, it’s well within recreational limits and surprisingly beginner-friendly. We’ve found the entry straightforward, leading into a modest archway carved into the reef. Inside, the light still filters through, creating a soft glow, and you’ll likely spot smaller reef fish darting in and out. It’s a pleasant, easy dive for anyone curious about overhead environments without the commitment of a deeper, darker cave.
- Location
- Saint-Gilles & West Coast, Réunion, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -21.211300, 55.283100
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 27m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: La Pointe Au Sel
Best Time to Dive in Saint-Gilles & West Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Saint-Gilles & West Coast occur in January, averaging 27.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
- February: 27.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
- March: 27.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
- April: 27.9°C (air: 25.6°C)
- May: 27.9°C (air: 23.8°C)
- June: 27.9°C (air: 22.0°C)
- July: 27.9°C (air: 21.1°C)
- August: 27.9°C (air: 21.2°C)
- September: 27.9°C (air: 21.6°C)
- October: 27.9°C (air: 23.0°C)
- November: 27.9°C (air: 24.0°C)
- December: 27.9°C (air: 25.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Saint-Gilles & West Coast
- Abyss Plongée - 25-40m (wreck)
- Ali Baba - 28m
- Antonio Lorenzo - 37m
- Bleu Marine Réunion
- Bossy’s Canyon - 19m
- Bouée rouge - 18m
- Bouée verte - 11m
- Canyon - 15m
- Cap la Houssaye - 13m
- Corail Noir - 44m (reef)
- Deux Arches - 18m (cave)
- FONG KUO - 2m (wreck)
- Grotte aux Dentelles - 21m (cave)
- Haï Siang, wreck - 50m (wreck)
- Kary's smiles - 38m
Nearest Dive Centres to L'Arche de Noël
Marine Life in Saint-Gilles & West Coast
Home to 524 recorded species including 348 reef fish, 99 hard corals, 30 sharks & rays, 15 whales & dolphins, 9 sea cucumbers, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena equiselis) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Oriental flying gurnard (Dactyloptena orientalis) - Reef Fish
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
- Hatchetfish (Sternoptyx pseudobscura) - Reef Fish
- Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Brim (Kyphosus sectatrix) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Immaculate Squirrelfish (Myripristis vittata) - Reef Fish
- scad (Priacanthus hamrur) - Reef Fish
- Racoon (Chaetodon lunula) - Reef Fish
- Gilbert's Synaphobranchid Eel (Synaphobranchus affinis) - Reef Fish
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
Recommended Packing List for L'Arche de Noël
Based on average water temperature of 27.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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