Snorkelling New Caledonia: Pléiades du Sud, Ouvéa

Ouvéa, often called “the island closest to paradise”, is a UNESCO World Heritage lagoon in New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands. On our trip we snorkelled the Pléiades du Sud (Southern Pleiades), discovering crystal waters, dramatic reef structures, and abundant marine life. Here’s our full snorkel guide and review.

Ouvéa – the Island Closest to Paradise

Ouvéa is part of New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific Ocean. The island stretches ~25 km with long white sand beaches and a population of around 3,000. Languages spoken include Melanesian Iaai, Polynesian Faga Uvea, and French (with limited English). Its lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a feeding ground for turtles and large fish.

Exposed to the trade winds, the outer reefs face the open Pacific, while the inner reefs remain sheltered. This creates a mix of calm lagoon snorkelling and more dramatic outer reef adventures.

Image: Ouvéa Island and lagoon. NASA, 1990 (Public Domain).

Why We Chose Ouvéa

Originally, we had planned to visit Vanuatu, but during the tail end of the Covid-19 pandemic flights weren’t operating. New Caledonia became our alternative, and after researching the Isle of Pines, we decided instead to visit Ouvéa for its UNESCO lagoon, rich marine life, and reputation as “closest to paradise.”

During our visit, parts of the lagoon suffered an algae bloom, so we skipped lagoon swimming and focused instead on offshore snorkelling spots like the Pléiades du Sud.

South Ouvéa lagoon with algae bloom.

Getting There

We flew from Nouméa to Ouvéa with Air Calédonie. Tickets weren’t cheap, and baggage weight limits are strict. Once on Ouvéa, transport is limited. Hire a car at the airport if you can (small, but enough for island roads). Alternatives include hotel pickups or taxis (rare and expensive). We never saw a bus service.

Pléiades du Sud Snorkelling – Our Experience

We had already snorkelled with Jean-Baptiste in the north and wanted to explore the southern reefs. Our hotel arranged a trip with Pierre and his offsider Jean. Pierre spoke excellent English, while Jean spoke French. Along with local snorkellers from Nouméa and France, we set out by boat from the south of the island near Lekiny, just past Pont de Mouly (a popular snorkel spot but closed during bridge works).

The trip included two snorkels near the Pléiades du Sud, plus lunch on the boat by a sheltered island. A third snorkel was cancelled due to currents, but the two sites more than made up for it.

Jean (Pierre’s offsider) at the boat launch. Image courtesy of Trecy, one of our snorkelling companions.

Snorkelling Point de Mouly

Our first stop was Point de Mouly, a ten-minute boat ride south-east. It’s accessible by beach entry in calm conditions, but we snorkelled further out. Pierre led the group, while Jean stayed behind to ensure everyone was safe.

The Conditions

We visited in September 2022. Weather was mild, water temperature ~20 °C, and visibility excellent. We wore spring suits, which made for comfortable snorkelling, though one companion without a wetsuit gave up after lunch.

The Reef

Low tide and clear water revealed steep shelves dropping from the surface to depths of 10+ metres. Coral bommies, hard and soft corals, and varied structures made this site ideal for both surface snorkellers and free divers.

Fish and Coral

We saw large schools of small reef fish, plus bigger species cruising along the drop-offs. Blacktip and whitetip reef sharks appeared regularly at 3–4 metre depths. A highlight was a cuttlefish resting motionless, captured on a GoPro by Jean. Coral diversity was strong, particularly along the reef edges.

Video courtesy of our snorkelling companion Trecy.

Snorkelling NW Point de Mouly

Our second site, a 20-minute boat ride north-west, was the best snorkelling we did in all of New Caledonia. Here the reef sat only three metres below the surface, cut into channels and canyons formed by ancient lava flows. Swimming through these bommie canals felt like exploring a maze of coral valleys.

The Reef

Soft and hard corals lined every surface of the bommies, glowing in clear light. The shallow depth made everything accessible, while the labyrinth-like layout offered endless surprises.

Fish and Coral

The fish life was rich and varied — small schooling fish, reef dwellers tucked into the bommies, and plenty of mid-sized fish cruising between channels. While not as shark-heavy as the first site, this reef had the most colour and diversity we’d seen.

Why Snorkel Pléiades du Sud

Pléiades du Sud offers everything snorkellers love — canyons, bommies, sharks, cuttlefish, and colourful corals. The reefs here are wilder and less crowded than near Nouméa, and the trip feels like a proper adventure.

Would We Return?

Yes. With excellent guides like Pierre and Jean, and some of the most vibrant snorkelling we’ve done in New Caledonia, we’d happily recommend the Pléiades du Sud. The sites are best suited to confident swimmers who don’t mind deeper water, currents, and big fish encounters — but for us, it was a highlight of our Pacific snorkelling.

Our Verdict – Snorkelling Pléiades du Sud

• Snorkel rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 out of 5)
• Highlights: shark encounters, cuttlefish, canyons and bommies, healthy corals, excellent visibility.
• Considerations: remote, exposed to currents, and best for confident snorkellers.

---

FAQs – Snorkelling Ouvéa & Pléiades du Sud

Is Ouvéa good for snorkelling?
Yes — the UNESCO lagoon and surrounding reefs are excellent. Pléiades du Sud in particular offers vibrant corals, sharks, and unique lava-formed reef channels.

How do you get to Ouvéa?
Fly from Nouméa with Air Calédonie. Hire a car at the airport for flexibility, as public transport is almost non-existent.

Do you need a guide for Pléiades du Sud?
Yes. Local guides like Pierre and Jean know the currents and safe entry points. We recommend booking through your hotel.

What marine life can you see?
Expect sharks, cuttlefish, large reef fish, schooling fish, and an abundance of hard and soft corals.