Water Taxi Signal Island Turtle Tour for cruisers
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Noumea, New Caledonia
+3
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Departing directly from Noumea's cruise terminal, this half-day tour offers a chance to see the wild side of one of the world's largest lagoons. Head to Signal Island, a quiet white-sand island which few tourists take the time to visit. Swim in water frequented by turtles and see colorful corals and reef fish. Arrive back in Port refreshed in the early afternoon, leaving plenty of time to see the sights in Noumea.
- See the reef's unique sealife without the hassle of organizing a boat ride on the day
- Don't stress about finding a meeting point in town: this tour departs from the cruise terminal
- For guests without their own gear, snorkels and masks are provided
- Return by mid-afternoon, leaving the evening free to see Noumea's highlights
What's Included
- Water taxi to Signal island
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Cruise Ship TerminalRue Jules Ferry, Nouméa 98800, New Caledonia
Please visit our Noumea Turtle Tour desk (big white turtle) at the City Terminal, between Les Quaies mall and the terminal. ⚠️ Two terminals exist: • Cargo Terminal → take the free shuttle (5 min) • City Terminal → exit, first left. Ask info desk if needed.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Dal'Ocean Charter
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guid
- Not recommended for participants greater than 70 years of age
- Food and drinks not included in price
- Near public transportation
- Please bring swimwear, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Amazing from start to finish the trip to the island and back is an experience in itself and we had the best time the boat captains are wonderful, the land staff incredibly friendly, we highly recommend this tour
Reviews
4.6
based on 425 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
64 reviews
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Travelers praise Signal Island for its natural beauty, tranquil atmosphere, and vibrant marine life, highlighting clear waters and diverse snorkeling opportunities with turtles and reef sharks. The island’s serene environment and scenic views stand out as key attractions. While tour planning generally allows sufficient time for snorkeling and hiking, some travelers report confusion during boarding and limited on-island support, with occasional crowding affecting the overall experience.
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While not promised to see turtles, we did see one, which is pretty much all anyone else saw. I expected more, given the tour description. But the reef was beautiful as were the fish. There was some unclarity about getting snorkeling equipment if you didn't bring your own. While I had my own, I never saw any indication that there were masks and snorkels available to others. But overall, a beautiful day
The water taxi ride was worth the price of admission!! 11/10 stars. The ocean and Pierre gave us a ride to remember! 🌊. The snorkeling was impressive as was the island itself. Swam along following Crush 🐢 for twenty minutes.
Signal island was very nice, water and the views were beautiful. Loved seeing the turtles, it's a small island that you can walk, some people campout. The boat ride was a exciting, hang on! We came directly off a cruise ship, so it was inconvenient for us to have a cooler with food and drinks, thankfully we did bring a bottle water. They did provide snorkels and noodles to float.
Had an amazing day swimming with the Turtles and Fish amongst the coral reef. The Speedboat ride out and back was almost the highlight of the day! Such a fun day!
Absolutely amazing trip! The water was unbelievably clear and turquoise, with turtles everywhere. We loved finding the quieter parts of the island where we could really relax and take it all in. The homemade items were such a special touch and a wonderful way to support the local community and bring a little piece of the island home with us. We loved every minute!
Staff were nice and the island was stunning. Ride there was fun! Got to swim with beautiful fish and sea turtles. Toilets were well kept. We had changed our booking time online a few days before but they had no record of the change. They did make it work on the day and accomodate our new time without issue.
Fantastic experience! Travelled by boat to signal island - what a ride! Snorkelling was good but if you go for a walk along the trail to the right of the island, you will come across a turtle playground! Happily swimming away from people, just delightful. Great day!
Great day out! The water taxi itself was a fabulous experience, especially the return trip as it was quite rough - think roller coaster on the ocean! Great snorkeling too - lots of large turtles, all very approachable, and we saw a reef shark and plenty of other coral reef fish too.
Overall very good
Apart from trying to get into the boats when leaving. Have to stand on a stool and lift yourself over, the staff of three two helped one boat and passengers had to help ppl getting into the boat which two ladies fell in the water
The staff member was trying to hold the boat and the third member left in the other boat without helping 12 passengers to get in. Was very unprofessional that passengers had to help ppl getting
Island lovely but this has turned me off booking again
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback. However, it is important to understand that the weather conditions on that day were not normal. The wind was coming from an unusual direction, which created choppy conditions at the beach. Our crew did everything they could to ensure that passengers boarded the boats as safely as possible. We provided a step stool to help passengers board the boat independently. Under normal circumstances, this works well for almost everyone. Our team simply had to adapt to the unusual sea conditions caused by the wind. We are also surprised by your statement that two people fell into the water. The managers from Dal'Océan who were present that day confirmed that no one fell into the water. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, no passenger has ever fallen into the water during boarding or disembarkation in over 20 years of our company's operations. Unfortunately, weather conditions are beyond our control. When guests visit on a specific day, there can occasionally be more challenging conditions than usual. We always do our best to operate safely despite these circumstances. As for passengers helping one another during boarding, we see this as something completely natural. People are there to support each other, and when conditions are a little more challenging, mutual assistance is simply part of being on the water. We are sorry that this experience discouraged you from booking with us again. However, no one was injured, and helping fellow passengers during boarding is, in our view, both normal and sensible in a marine environment. Please remember that this is a sea-based activity. The ocean is a natural environment that can sometimes be unpredictable, despite all the precautions we take. While we do everything possible to ensure our guests' safety, there will always be a degree of adaptation required when taking part in activities on the water. Kind regards,
A fun activity with great organisation! It is an easy way to see something different from Noumea and we were able to see turtles with very minimal effort.
This was an awesome experience, we saw heaps of fish and turtles. The crew were very accommodating and really made the day enjoyable.
Beautiful water taxi ride even if it was a "Water Taxi" small boat. The small island was beautiful and rustic. Snorkeling was fair to good as this day had a lot of wave action, clouding the water close to shore. Farther out was much clearer. Also, the water taxi drops you off and leaves, returning at the agreed upon time.
Snorkeling was good. Saw one turtle and one sea snake. Water not very clear the day we went. Water taxi was good.
The water was beautiful but was disappointed in the snorkeling. Very little to see in the water. Getting in and out of the boat to get there was very difficult and it felt unsafe. Need another person to help with getting in and out of the boat safely
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello,
We are surprised by your message, as all the necessary information about the snorkeling areas is clearly provided. Upon arrival at the islet, the skipper explains in detail where to go for the best snorkeling spots. In addition, a paper map is given to you before boarding, indicating all the recommended areas.
Regarding your comment about the reef being “dead,” this is not the case at all. It likely means that you stayed only in the shallow turtle area, where the main focus is indeed observing turtles. To discover coral reefs and a wider variety of fish, it is necessary to swim further to the designated snorkeling zones, where the water is deeper and the marine life more diverse. Reaching these areas does require a certain level of swimming confidence.
The primary purpose of this tour is turtle observation, and since you were able to see them, the main objective of the excursion was fully achieved. In Nouméa, there are several islets where seeing turtles is not guaranteed, so this is already a very positive outcome.
We are sorry that you were not able to reach the outer reef, which is indeed beautiful and rich in marine life. For future reference, it can be accessed by walking to the end of the pontoon and following the reef on your left.
We have also sent you underwater photos by email so you can see for yourself that the reef is far from dead—on the contrary, it is vibrant and full of life.
The reef is mostly dead and damaged from overuse. We saw a couple sea turtles, a sea snake and some fish. The “guide” (really just a guy handing out the equipment) was not personable or helpful in navigating the reef.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello,
We are surprised by your message, as the skipper clearly explains the best snorkeling areas when you arrive on the islet. All the necessary information is provided before disembarking. The staff member on the island is mainly there to manage the masks and snorkels and can offer advice, but normally all key information has already been given beforehand. You mentioned that the reef is dead. This is not the case at all—it simply means you did not go to the right area. However, you did observe two turtles and some small fish. The purpose of this tour is to see turtles, and if you saw two, we can consider that the objective was fully achieved. There are some islets where it is almost impossible to see turtles, such as Duck Island. Therefore, you should already be pleased to have seen them, as the objective has been 100% achieved. We are sorry that you were not able to access the beautiful fringing reef. Perhaps next time you will be able to reach it—it is simply a matter of going to the end of the pontoon and following the reef on your left. I have also sent you underwater photos of the reef by email, so you can see for yourself that it is not dead, but on the contrary very rich and vibrant.
Was exactly how the experience was described. It was a rainy miserable day but didn’t ruin our time all. Keep in mind there is no food, drink or toilets on the island. Everyone is was really lovely and saw soooo many turtles. Highly recommend.
Snorkelling on the island was great but was disappointed to see people standing on the reef and not being told off, when everyone was told not to and you can see where it has died due to tourist. The only thing would say is we had booked to leave at 9am but moved to 930am departure and brought back from island at 12:10pm, so not a true 4 hr tour
Amazing from start to finish the trip to the island and back is an experience in itself and we had the best time the boat captains are wonderful, the land staff incredibly friendly, we highly recommend this tour
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much Natasha.
I’ll let the team read it 😉 they’ll be happy to hear that <3
Island is just beautiful, staff are friendly. Bring some snacks and lots of water on your tour as nothing is available. Getting on and off the boat is a little hectic as organisers got flustered and didn’t know who was going on what boat.
We enjoyed our half-day trip to Signal Island when cruising to Noumea. The beach was lovely and the snorkeling excellent though we did not see turtles. Note there are shelters on both sides of the pier with picnic tables and basic restroom facilities but no vendors. A nice quiet visit.
Easy to find their tent and accommodated request to leave early. My only recommendation is to cut the 4 hours down to 3 hours as Signal Island has limited activities.
Amazing!
Saw lots of turtles
Snorkelling was great and staff very helpful. Taxi boat ride was only 30 min to the island.
It is a lovely place and there are turtles and beautiful fish and a lovely beach. There are no amenities, no bathroom or place to buy food or drinks. The ferries out to the island were fun but a lot rougher than I was expecting. The tour guide and the boat driver were great.
Take sunscreen as there is not much shade
If you have your own snorkelling equipment bring it
Or water shoes
Suggestion to tour operators, more shade would be much appreciated or umbrellas?
We had to be switched to a different island due to the weather. They would have refunded us but we decided to go with plan b. It was a great spot as well. We saw lots of nice turtles and fish.
Well organized when we arrived in port. Signal island couldn't have been more beautiful. Highly recommend
When my husband and I booked it said water taxi but was told no you go by Catamaran water taxi booked out ,the guy at the tent was absolutely rude and said that’s how it is ,I said but says water taxi he said not today .It was a long walk to catamaran then the gate was locked then finally someone tuned up with the key hoorah we all thought o it took us 1 hour 15 minutes to get to island and 1 hour 15 minutes back ,they could of gone faster .Then when we got there it stopped out in the water and we had to get in a dingy to go ashore and the water was really rough a lady fell hit her head and they didn’t care or say are you OK 🤬then as I got out of dingy I fell into water backwards ,there was a jetty there why wasn’t it used ,I was more than angry by then and stormed up the beach soaking wet in my clothes .Whoever runs it should be ashamed of themselves .Worst ever Snorkelling trip ever ,don’t go to Signal Island a waste of money and time .A nice guy his wife and little boy at the tent that was on our tour asked how much the guy said $90 the nice guy said the lady just there told me $80 the guy at tent said $90 or take a walk .Travelling time close to 3 hours. Noumea Turtle Tours do not book them .😡😡
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello
We would like to clarify several important points regarding your review. You had booked the 11:30 AM tour, based on the original schedule of your cruise ship, which was supposed to arrive in Noumea at 8:00 AM. However, your ship actually arrived at 11:30 AM, which means it was more than 3 hours 30 Min late. Because we also had guests who had booked the 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM tours, the logical order upon your ship’s arrival was to first accommodate those earlier reservations. This meant that your 11:30 AM booking would normally have been postponed to the 1:30 PM departure. However, since your cruise ship was scheduled to depart at 5:30 PM, with the last shuttle at 5:15 PM, it would have been impossible for you to take the 1:30 PM tour, as it returns at 5:30 PM and you would have missed your ship. Even though the delay of your cruise ship was completely outside of our control, we still made every effort to find a solution for you. We offered two options:
• 12:00 PM departure on a sailing catamaran, returning at 4:30 PM
• 12:30 PM departure on the water taxi, returning at 4:30 PM (the tour you originally booked)
The differences between the two options were explained clearly. As you did not wish to wait an additional hour, you chose the sailing catamaran option. Despite the circumstances, you were still able to visit Signal Island, swim, and observe turtles, which is the main purpose of the excursion. Regarding your comment about returning with only 5 minutes to spare, this is incorrect. The catamaran returned at 4:30 PM, while the last shuttle to the cruise terminal was at 5:15 PM, leaving approximately 45 minutes to return to your ship. Concerning the incident during disembarkation: there was a sudden and unexpected gust of wind under a rain cloud, which briefly created waves and made the landing slightly more difficult. One guest slipped and hurt their toe, but it was minor, and our staff assisted them immediately. They were able to continue enjoying the excursion and even thanked us afterward. Just as your cruise ship encountered unforeseen weather conditions at sea, which caused its 3,5-hour delay, we also had to deal with unexpected wind conditions at the island. These are simply part of operating activities at sea. We always do our best to accommodate cruise passengers when ships arrive late, even when schedules are heavily disrupted. In this case, we provided an alternative solution so that you could still enjoy the excursion. We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we are confident that our team acted professionally and responsibly under the circumstances.
Saw tons of turtles and some surprise dolphins on the way home. The latter was totally unexpected. Also, please tip your boat drivers for great service. We did not see anybody outside of ourselves tip them.
Boring no turtles. Speedboats were bumpy. Not good on the back. Shady Island. Need reef shoes and food. Wasn't toured had to work it out yourself.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Another person who did not read the tour description.
Statistics show it is inevitable that some people will not enjoy the tour or will not see turtles because they expect them to swim directly in front of their mask without even having to move. For your reference, here is the tour description clearly stated:
This is an uncovered boat: please plan sunscreen and clothing to protect yourself from the sun. Water may splash on your face, but we have equipment available if needed. This tour is reserved for people under 80 years old and in good physical condition. It is a physical, bumpy inflatable boat ride to the island. Guests must be able to walk unassisted and have no lower back injuries. To fully enjoy this excursion and maximize your chances of seeing turtles, you must be an experienced swimmer (comfortable in the water and able to swim for a sufficient time). We do not guarantee turtle sightings, as this depends on your snorkeling ability and weather conditions. This is not a marine park — turtles are in their natural environment. Signal Island is a very good area to find and swim with turtles, and about 90% of our guests see them. This is not a guided snorkeling tour. It is easy snorkeling (no current, shallow water), ideal for families. Noumea Turtle Tour includes water taxi transfer only. We can provide masks, snorkels, and floating noodles (ask the skipper onboard), but you will snorkel independently. The skipper gives instructions before departure but does not accompany guests in the water. Guests must bring their own food and drinks. A supermarket is located directly in front of the cruise ship terminal. Now, in response to your comments:
“Boring, no turtles.”
Signal Island is a protected natural reserve with hundreds of fish species, nesting seabirds, and a 45-minute walking trail identifying local tree species in English and French. Turtle sightings depend on swimming ability and conditions. “Speedboats were bumpy.”
Yes — it is clearly stated that this is a physical and sporty boat ride. “Not good on the back.”
The seating position can make a difference; we always advise guests to choose the most suitable seat for their comfort. “Shady Island.”
There are shelters (fare huts) available on the island. “Need reef shoes.”
Reef shoes are not optional and should be brought by guests if desired. However, walking in shallow water can damage coral reefs and seagrass beds where turtles feed, so swimming is recommended. “Need food.”
It is clearly stated that guests must bring their own food and drinks, and this is also repeated at the point of sale. “Wasn’t toured, had to work it out yourself.”
It is clearly stated that we operate as a water taxi service, not a guided tour.
This tour was absolutely amazing in getting us out to Signal Island and an island paradise experience!! So much care was given to getting us out there with plenty of time to snorkel and hike around the island, and then getting us back in time for our ship departure! Highly recommend this island adventure and fun!!
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