First Dives of the Season
The visibility is not great - about 25 feet - but it's diveable and there are plenty of distinctive fish. We spent two nights at 'Baie de Pam' and dived twice off the reef just outside the anchorage. The coral was in good condition - there were even some sprigs of soft coral. We saw two species of anemone fish, a large puffer, a large stingray, and many smaller fish some of which are unique to these islands.
We're now about 12 miles further southeast, anchored behind a small sand island 'Ile Poudioue' near 'Passe Ballade' through the barrier reef. We are close to where Captain James Cook first landed in New Caledonia on 5 September 1774. He landed on Ile Poudioue and named it 'Observatory Island'. It was here he observed an eclipse of the sun on 6 September 1774.
On the island there is a monument to Captain Huan de Kermadec - of the 'Esperance' - who was buried here - the first Frenchman and European buried in New Caledonia.