New Caledonia - A French Paradise in South Seas by Jose Coltro

Brosse Island, S. Pine Island

During my entire life I always wanted to visit New Caledonia. Finally in January 2001 I had opportunity to travel to this paradise in the Coral Sea. I called my friend Alfredo Bodart, on the trip and during three weeks we could explore the main island and the wonderful Pine Island, located in the south.
Noumea is a real French city and except for the natives you could believe you are in some of the Mediterranean French town. But even in Noumea there are great areas for diving and snorkeling. We found many nice shells like some rostrate and melanistic cowries, nice small species. Traveling around the island we had opportunity to see some nice tropical rain forest in the East coast, where New Caledonia still has traditional Melanesian villages. We snorkeled in the north point of the island, where the closest population lives 40 km from there - it is great to stay in a place without contact with humans!
We found a great place to dive in Poé Beach - a beautiful paradise where you find some nice Conus marmoreus suffusus on sea grass at depth less than 1 meter of water.
Finally we had a great experience visiting Pine Island - probably one of the most beautiful places I ever had been. And Kanumera Bay is a paradise. We also got lost in a small island southern Pine Island, Brosse Island. Took over 4 hours to find our way back to the hotel!
New Caledonia is one of the great destination for any shell collector!

- These photos were digitalized from originals (slides or paper) so the quality is not as high as the photos you are used to see in our website.