Re: New Caledonia diving

I am not really in to diving, but when we sailed a 50 foot Catamaran from
Vanuatu back to Australia, we stopped off at an Island called Isle De La
Surprise. The couple who were with us were keen divers who had dived all
over the world, and they said they had never seen such a place where the
coral was so large and untouched.

Isle De La Surprise is located just to the north of New Caledonia. You would
need to charter a boat to get there though.
Observatory Cay was another magnificent spot, situated about halfway between
Australia and New Caledonia.
--
Garry Beattie
Ocean Spirit Trailer Sailer &
Small Yacht Cruising Emagazine
www.ocean-spirit.com
gjbeattie@iinet.net.au

"BrianM" <bmorris@nilads.co.nx> wrote in message
newsan.2004.03.08.01.28.43.419781.2540@nilads.co .nx...
> Amedee Lighthouse Noumea.
> Worth a winter visit with snorkel and u/w vidcam?.
> The pics at http://www.amedee.ws/
> look inviting. Only 3 hrs flight time from home so it appeals
> as a change from other Pacific islands we go to, Fiji,
> Raro etc. What do you think?
>
> cheers
> Brian
>
> p.s My French is terrible.

"BrianM" <bmorris@nilads.co.nx> wrote in message
newsan.2004.03.11.04.10.28.998204.2589@nilads.co .nx...
>
> thanks Garry - I've marked those on my map.
>
> BrianM

No problems Brian.

Both locations have protected waters and an island.
Isle De La Surprise has wild pumpkin, watermelon and other goodies growing
on it. Plus the remnants of an old 1700's whaling station complete with
abandoned steam trains and all. It's an amazing place both above and below
the water.

Observatory Cay is alive with turtles and you can walk right up to them. I
remember the 2 divers on board saying words to the effect "The plate coral
here is the largest I have ever seen it!"

Enjoy yourself when you get there. It is genuinely untouched territory. Very
few people ever get to visit these places.

Best regards

Garry

PS: Let me clarify too, I am talking about Observatory Cay, situated in the
Middle Belona Reef system (French) not Observatory Cay situated in the Kenn
Reef system. The two are only 171nm apart but I have never been to the one
at Kenn Reef.

Best regards
--
Garry Beattie
Ocean Spirit Trailer Sailer &
Small Yacht Cruising Emagazine
www.ocean-spirit.com
gjbeattie@iinet.net.au

"Garry Beattie" <gjbeattie@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:40503906$0$22505$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net. au...
> "BrianM" <bmorris@nilads.co.nx> wrote in message
> newsan.2004.03.12.04.50.32.762326.2473@nilads.co .nx...
> > On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 12:53:10 +1300, Garry Beattie wrote:
> >
> > You yachties get to all the good unspoiled places !.
>
> Ha!! Anyone can do it. Just don't restrict yourself to a boat that needs
> constant refueling!!
>
> > Its a huge area. Friend of mine and the "Grace Lowry" a 40 footer out
> > of Lyttelton visited places like above in the 90's. He was telling
> > me about some hair-raising times like going in through a narrow passage
> > in the reef under iron mizzen to an uninhabited atoll with a man up
> > the stick guiding them thru the bommies which were within two
> > metres of the surface.
>
> That is exactley what we did getting into Atoll De La Surprise, the huge
> natural Attol that is home to Isle De La Surprise, Ilse Leleizor & Isle
> Fabre. The Atoll is surrounded by reef and is a staggering 16 miles
across.
> We had to find a hole in the wall to manouvere the 50 foot catamaran
through
> to get inside the bay and then cruised up to Isle De La Surprise.
>
> I have some photo's if anyone wants to see them. Email me at
> ocean-spirit@iinet.net.au
>
> Very fond memories!!
>
> Garry
>
>