Lagoon Safari

Located along the EASO beach, Lagoon Safaris is the only dive centre serving the island of Lifou. The centre is situated within the Chez Benoit BONUA gîte, approximately 15 kilometres from the Lifou aerodrome and 35 kilometres from the port of Wé.

As a PADI and ANMP affiliated centre, it offers a professional gateway to the New Caledonian lagoon. The operation is structured around two dedicated vessels, allowing for both morning excursions and afternoon sessions for training or discovery dives.

The team is composed of a professional Brevet d'État instructor and local professional Dive Masters. This combination of international standards and local expertise ensures you are guided by those who know the specific currents and topography of the Lifou reefs.

Safety is a priority on every trip, with a qualified skipper remaining on the surface at all times to monitor the water while you are submerged. The centre operates in both French and English, making it accessible for international divers.

Lagoon Safaris offers a range of training programmes through PADI and ANMP. For those new to the water, Discover Scuba Diving sessions are available to introduce the sensation of buoyancy and underwater breathing.

For those looking to gain formal qualifications, the centre provides the Open Water Diver course. The facility is also used for training in protected environments to help divers build confidence before moving to more open reef sites.

The primary vessel is the Lagoon Explorer, a 7m60 fibre PANGA. It is powered by a 175 hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard motor, which is noted for being quiet and stable, making it ideal for reaching offshore sites comfortably.

The Lagoon Adventures serves as the secondary vessel. This is a semi-rigid boat equipped for diving that can accommodate up to 12 people on board.

The centre is a Dive Center Mares, providing access to a range of dedicated equipment. The cylinders used are 12-litre steel models, which are regularly serviced and re-qualified every two years to meet legal standards.

All kit, including BCDs and regulators, is serviced before the start of each season. To maintain hygiene and longevity, the staff rinses all equipment after every dive.

The reefs around Lifou are a riot of colour, dominated by diverse Soft coral (Alcyonacea) and Sea fan (Gorgoniidae) species. You will find massive coral structures including branching, tabular, and digital corals that provide a complex habitat for the local residents.

The larger inhabitants of the lagoon include various sharks and rays. You can expect to see Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata), and hammerhead sharks, alongside reef manta ray and oceanic manta rays. Large predators such as Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Jack (Carangidae), and Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) are also frequently present.

In the shallower reef flats and lagoons, you will encounter a high density of colourful fish including Clownfish (Amphiprion), Butterflyfish (Chaetodon), and various damselfish (Pomacentridae). Schools of fusilier (Caesio) and parrotfish (Calotomus) are common sights against the coral backdrop.

For those interested in macro life, the sites host a variety of Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), Spiny lobster (Palinuridae), and crabs (Brachyura). You may also spot the elusive nautilus or various species of sea slugs and small crustaceans tucked within the reef structure.

Most dive sites are sheltered from the dominant winds, providing relatively calm conditions. However, certain sites like Sojhi or Alcyonnaire can be exposed to strong currents, requiring a certain level of experience to navigate comfortably.

Night diving is a supported activity at the centre, with the Jinek Bay site being particularly well-suited for nocturnal exploration due to its protected nature.