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Last updated on April 2, 2021
Îlot Leroue (Leroue Island) is a small islet bordered by a coral reef, located in the large southern lagoon of New Caledonia. It is a natural site, far less crowded than some other islets closer to Nouméa. Snorkelers will enjoy its unspoiled reef drop-off, where colorful fish, turtles, as well as reef sharks can be seen.
Leroue Island is located in the large southern lagoon of New Caledonia, about a 1:30-1:45 boat ride from Nouméa. This islet is less easy to reach than other islets closer to Nouméa and therefore more visited, such as Îlot Amédée or Îlot Signal.
You can get to the islet with your own boat or with a taxi boat, which can drop you off on-site under certain conditions (especially when the boat is full – check with the operators in Nouméa). Catamaran cruises in the lagoon sometimes also stop there. A small pass allows boats to reach directly the islet.
Get into the water from the beach, facing the small pass that provides access to the reef drop-off. Be careful of the tide on the way back, because you must also use the pass to return to the islet.
Swim through the pass to reach the reef drop-off, which you can follow to the south for around 200m (see map above). The drop-off is more or less steep, and offers a beautiful diversity of underwater reliefs, including outcrops, walls, and canyons. The depth at the foot of the drop-off varies from 10ft/3m to 30ft/10m depending on the area.
The reef, made up of dozens of hard coral species (mainly from the Acropora genus) is quite healthy. Around the drop-off, you will spot many fish found on the Caledonian coral reefs, including damselfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, and countless other species.
On the outer reef, you may also have the chance to encounter a green sea turtle or a whitetip reef shark, two species quite common along Leroue Island’s shore.
Leroue Island is a natural site, with no equipment or amenities.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
