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Last updated on March 26, 2021
Moara Beach is located in Thio, an off-the-beaten-track locality New Caledonia’s East coast. A campsite, set in a coconut grove, allows visitors to stay a few steps from the beach. On the coral reef which begins near the shore, snorkelers can spot clownfish, sea turtles, and sometimes even a dugong, which has settled in the bay.
Moara beach is located in Thio, on the east coast of Grande Terre. A campsite (Camping La Moara) has been set up in the coconut grove bordering the beach.
There’s a fee to access the beach. To stay at the campsite, the price is CFP800 per adult per night, and CFP400 for children aged 6 to 10. For a picnic on the beach, the price is CFP500 per car (2021).
Get into the water from the campsite beach, preferably on the right hand, to be closer to the reef. It is also possible to enter the water from a second beach, found a little further south.
The recommended snorkeling area includes the coral reef extending on the right side of the beach. There are various coral formations there, offering pretty drop-offs, labyrinths, and crevices to explore.
The coral is more or less healthy depending on the area. On the most preserved parts of the reef, you’ll find in particular branching coral, tabular coral, finger coral, and leather coral.
The spot is rather poor in fish, but many fire clownfish are found at reefs, as well as several species of damselfish and butterflyfish.
Hawksbill turtles and green turtles also visit the reef. Regularly, a dugong is sighted at this spot, where it has apparently settled down. Even if this animal is harmless, keep a reasonable distance.
Camping La Moara is right in front of the spot. There is no restaurant there, but picnic tables, water points, and fireplaces have been set up. Two sanitary blocks and outdoor showers are also available.
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.
