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Aiguille du Prony

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 24 contributors

Aiguille du Prony is a protected dive site in France's marine reserve, offering year-round diving with healthy coral ecosystems and documented marine biodiversity.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Réserve de l'Aiguille de Prony updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Beginner-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Depth
?–1 m
Best months
Year-round

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Aiguille du Prony location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
10.6 kn
Wave
1.26 m
Water
22.2°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (54%)
Now: S (185°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.91m

Next: Low at 06:00 (+0.11m)

+0.9 m0 m+0.0 m
▼ 06:00 · +0.11m ▲ 13:00 · +0.8m ▼ 19:00 · +0.46m ▲ 00:00 · +0.7m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV7.95 · high Air PM2.511 · good 05:45 17:47
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 11.7 1.38 8 0mm
09-20 8.5 0.94 8 1mm
09-21 7.4 0.82 8 0mm
09-22 8.1 0.86 8 2mm
09-23 9.4 1.16 7 0mm
09-24 13.8 1.58 8 6mm
09-25 14.2 1.58 5 8mm

About this spot

Aiguille du Prony sits within the Réserve de l'Aiguille de Prony, a designated marine protected area off the coast of France. The site benefits from strict conservation status that has helped maintain its coral health and marine ecosystem. Divers visiting this location can expect to encounter a variety of marine species in a setting committed to environmental protection. The reserve designation means access is regulated to preserve the underwater environment. This protection has kept coral stress low, making it an ideal destination for divers interested in healthy reef ecosystems. The site has generated documented species observations, indicating active marine research and monitoring. Year-round diving opportunities mean you can plan trips across all seasons. Local conditions and specific depth requirements should be confirmed with regional dive operators familiar with current site access and regulations. The combination of protected status and community engagement makes Aiguille du Prony a thoughtful choice for divers who value conservation.

📖 Guide: Diving in France: 220 Sites From Alpine Lakes to Tropical Reefs

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/E/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 16595km · ~3817kg · €69

FAQ

Can you dive Aiguille du Prony year-round?

Yes, the site is diveable throughout the year. Confirm seasonal conditions and any access restrictions with local operators before planning your trip.

What kind of marine life will I see?

Twelve documented species observations are available for this site. The protected reserve status supports healthy coral and marine populations. Check with dive shops for species checklists and seasonal sightings.

Is the site protected or restricted?

Aiguille du Prony lies within the Réserve de l'Aiguille de Prony marine protected area. Access is regulated to preserve the ecosystem. Follow all reserve rules and obtain any required permits before diving.

What is the condition of the coral?

Coral at the site shows no stress indicators. The marine reserve status has supported ecosystem health. This makes it an excellent destination for divers interested in thriving reef environments.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

72 records · 50 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Pastinachus ater

Elasmobranchii · Dasyatidae
GBIF
Last seen:
26 Jan 2026
×3records

Hypselodoris tryoni

Gastropoda · Chromodorididae
GBIF
Last seen:
26 Jan 2026
×2records

Tridacna crocea

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
23 Jan 2026
×2records

Nardoa novaecaledoniae

Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
20 Jan 2026
×4records

Fromia milleporella

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
19 Jan 2026
×2records

Octopus cyanea

Cephalopoda · Octopodidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×3records

Stenopus hispidus

Malacostraca · Stenopodidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×2records

Pseudoceratina verrucosa

Demospongiae · Pseudoceratinidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×1records

Herviella albida

Gastropoda · Facelinidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×1records

Vayssierea caledonica

Gastropoda · Okadaiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×1records

Tridacna derasa

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×1records

Echinomorpha nishihirai

Anthozoa · Lobophylliidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2026
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving L Aiguille, The Needle

freesim2226

Plongée à la Passe de Dumbéa (16.04.2023)

Johan Bas
💬 2 top comments
  • C'est Magnifique🤩💙

    @domacdo · 👍 1
  • Joli montage Johan 👍

    @irenehanocque · 👍 1

Underwater Needle New Caledonia.m4v

Rodolphe Holler
💬 1 top comments
  • Beautiful video love it thanks

    @javierguisa4113 · 👍 0

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