🇳🇨New Caledonia

Choose a qualified operator appropriate to your certification. Ask about currents at Boulari, Dumbea, Green Island and Deverd; overhead features at Cathedral, Gadji and other formations require separate specialist planning. Carry a computer, obey no-decompression limits and follow boat briefings. Never freedive alone or hyperventilate. Stop an outing for hazardous swell, current, storms or municipal shark restrictions. DAN recommends a preflight surface interval of at least 12 hours following one no-decompression dive and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple diving days; longer intervals after decompression diving or if symptoms appear. Seek emergency medical assessment instead of boarding any flight when decompression illness is suspected. At sea call 16 or use VHF channel 16.

The principal tertiary hospital referral is the Medipole at Koutio near Noumea, telephone +687 20 80 00. Island dispensaries and remote clinics do not establish on-island decompression-chamber availability. Current chamber readiness, referral pathway, air evacuation and remote east-coast hospital services were not independently confirmed for every region. For symptoms of decompression illness, serious injury or illness, contact SAMU 15 and administer emergency oxygen if trained and equipped, following medical direction. Book insurance that explicitly covers diving depth/activity, evacuation and recompression treatment. Ask each operator about oxygen, communications and the route from boat to definitive care.

The UNESCO-listed Lagoons of New Caledonia consist of six distinct marine clusters, not one open-access marine park. Province Sud regulates the West Coastal Zone, Grand Lagon Sud and individual marine reserves. Province Nord has rules for northern protected reefs and seabird islets. The separate Coral Sea Natural Park and its integral reserves include distant atolls with strict access bans. Do not fish or collect coral in reserves; avoid anchoring on living reef, feeding turtles or sharks, touching wildlife, landing on closed nesting islets or entering customary areas without permission. N'Digoro islet is permanently closed to visitors, the Natural Aquarium on Mare prohibits swimming, and independent entry to Lekiny Bay is prohibited. Humpback watching requires compliant standoff and no pursuit. Follow posted instructions and local authorities over general travel guides.