The Dumbea Passage(southern side)

Grande Terre, New Caledonia

Depth

Visibility

10m - 30m

Entry

Boat

Experience Level

Experienced

The Dumbea Passage(southern side)

Grande Terre, New Caledonia

Depth

Visibility

10m - 30m

Entry

Boat

Experience Level

Experienced

About The Dumbea Passage(southern side)

This is a very popular dive which changes according to the seasons. It is best as a drift dive as the current can be quite strong. There are nice corals and plenty of fish. It is rare to dive this passage without encountering sharks. The cods spawn in October & November. In June there are large numbers of grey reef sharks.

The Dumbea Passage(southern side) Dive Info

Terrain & Features

Drift, Shark, Reef, Drop Off

Entry Type

Boat

Max Depth

—

Visibility Range

10m – 30m

Experience Level

Experienced

Best Gas Mix

—

CNS Load (30 min)

—

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Marine Life

Blacktip
Diverse Fish Populations
Grey Reef
Hammerhead
Lobsters
Manta Rays
Maori Wrasse
Moray Eels
Potato Cods
Sharks (Whitetip
Stingrays
Turtles
Various

Weather Conditions

Weather information for The Dumbea Passage(southern side) coming soon.

Dive Operators near The Dumbea Passage(southern side)

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Location

Location details missing.

Dive Site Hazards

Eddy Pull-Off Zones — Eddies behind structures can pull divers away from the main drift line.
Delayed Surface Pickup — Strong current can exceed surface tracking assumptions, delaying boat pickup.
Vertical Current Shear — Currents may vary by depth, causing vertical separation even when divers stay together.

Situational Awareness Loss — Divers may fixate on sharks and lose depth or position awareness.

Subtle Behavioural Shifts — Changes in shark behaviour may be missed without active observation.

Blue-Water Reference Loss — Lack of visual references increases ascent and descent instability.

Hidden Depth Variations — Complex reef topography can conceal depth changes, leading to unintended profile variations.

Distraction from Marine Activity — High fish activity can distract divers and delay depth or gas awareness.

Rapid Surge Direction Changes — Surge near reef structures can reverse direction quickly, pushing divers sideways into unexpected areas.

Edge-Accelerated Currents — Currents often strengthen along drop-off edges.

Depth Perception Distortion — Visual contrast can distort perceived depth.

Terrain-Induced Descent — Divers may unintentionally follow terrain downward.

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