Ndo Island (Signal Island)

[Kyle]From Amedee, we continued further northwest through the lagoon to Ndo Island. Like Amedee, Ndo sits just inside a pass into the lagoon. Ndo’s pass, Dumbea, is the larger of the two and the main pass used by heavy shipping into Noumea. Our route threaded through coral outcrops just inside the protection of the reef. There was not even enough wind to feel, so we spent the trip motoring over a flat sea.

When we got there, we found it to be pretty crowded with about an equal mix of international cruisers, local weekenders and party charters. We picked up a mooring way on the outside to stay as much out of the chaos as possible. Then we rowed ashore for a walk on the nature trail around the island’s perimeter, where we searched the trees for birds and lizards, and the tide pools for sea creatures.

Ashore at Signal Island

We returned home for a snorkel in water that was crazy with swirling currents. They weren’t strong, so we were in no danger of getting swept away or anything, but the temperature changes were dramatic from spot to spot, maybe varying 10 degrees C. We found one lovely spot that looked like an aquarium and felt like a hot tub. That was great, except that there was a cold channel between it and Begonia. By the time we swam back home, we were shivering and glad to climb out into the baking sun.

And below the surface...