Comparison page with visibility and species notes for New Caledonia and Mur Aux lôches.
New Caledonia · Noumea and the southwest lagoon
Mur Aux lôches is a strong-current drift wall.
Mur Aux lôches is a strong-current drift wall.
Mur Aux lôches is the inner wall of the Dumbéa pass, a shore-to-boat drift wall with a shallow start and a narrow current window that quickly turns into a pelagic run. The dive rewards careful tide timing and a clean turn because the wall moves from easy shallower water into a strong-flow corridor where sharks, mantas, and other large fish can appear. It is a technical-feeling drift rather than a leisurely reef stroll.
Site Conditions
Safety Notes
Plan for a drift dive in strong current and be prepared for encounters with large pelagic sharks.
Access Restrictions
Do not enter the shipping channel; stay on the inner-wall drift line.
Legal Notes
The Dumbéa pass shipping channel is restricted and the dive should be planned as a drift along the inner wall.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Wall drift dive from about 5–25 m with strong current and frequent pelagic sightings.
Freediving
Not a freedive target because the site is usually dived as a strong-current drift wall.
Snorkeling
Not a snorkel site; the current and drift profile make it unsuitable.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Research estimate
Research estimate
Research estimate
Research estimate
Research estimate
Last Updated
Research Sources
Comparison page with visibility and species notes for New Caledonia and Mur Aux lôches.

Pointe de Dumbéa pass drift with sharks and pelagics.

Lagoon-side reef at the Dumbéa pass.