Water Taxi Signal Island Turtle Tour for cruisers
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Noumea, New Caledonia
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Natasha_S
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 397 reviews
Mary_B, Apr 2026
Snorkeling was good. Saw one turtle and one sea snake. Water not very clear the day we went. Water taxi was good.
Jan_G, Apr 2026
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.
Robert_N, Apr 2026
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.
Taylor_F, Apr 2026
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.
Erica_S, Apr 2026
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
Natasha_S, Apr 2026
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
Kimberly_F, Mar 2026
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.
Kerry_B, Mar 2026
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.
rlim1227, Mar 2026
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.
gbholme, Mar 2026
Amazing!
Saw lots of turtles
Snorkelling was great and staff very helpful. Taxi boat ride was only 30 min to the island.
Erin_C, Mar 2026
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.
PattiMugford, Mar 2026
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?
Terry_G, Mar 2026
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.
ShelleyFulton, Mar 2026
Well organized when we arrived in port. Signal island couldn't have been more beautiful. Highly recommend
Annamaria_B, Mar 2026
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.
Danielle_S, Mar 2026
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.
Mary_N, Feb 2026
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.
gloria_p, Feb 2026
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!!
Margarita_B, Feb 2026
It was a nice experience in general!! We saw sea turtles, some beautiful fishes and the island is really nice land to take great pics for memories. There is no toilets and you need to bring your own food ( snacks and water/ any drink) . Sun is very strong, bring sunscreen to reapply as many you think is necessary.
It’s important bring water proof cover for the phone so you can make videos of the turtles!! AMAZING I really recommend this activity. If you can bring your own snorkeling gear better.
Olivia_D, Feb 2026
Great alternative to the shore excursions offered on board the Disney Wonder. We snorkeled for a little bit with the masks provided and otherwise just hung out at the beach. Check-in was a little crazy because so many people were doing this excursion, but the tour company knew what they were doing. I would recommend for anyone not interested in the excursions offered on a cruise.
Karen_D, Feb 2026
We had a great excursion with this company. When we arrived we were told one of their water taxis was broken and even tho it was a more expensive option they were using their catamaran to transfer us to Signal Island.
Signal Island was beautiful and unspoilt. Some of our group off the Disney Wonder saw a turtle and some witnessed a baby turtle hatching from the sand and made its way to the ocean, what a beautiful experience for them. We saw fish.
I would highly recommend, the people were so kind and friendly and even tho I was struggling with a freshly broken toe they made sure I was ok getting on and off.
I would absolutely recommend indulging and taking the catamaran which was beautiful and absolutely made our day for us.
Susan_D, Feb 2026
Let me start with the positive…. The excursion goes to an absolutely beautiful island. There were turtles and the day was perfect. However, there are definite improvements that could be made.
1. We were told that a speed boat would be taking us to the island, but it was a catamaran. In my opinion, this made it better!!! However, others on the excursion didn’t want an additional 1 1/2 hour ride. This created some chaos and many of the participants complained until a speed boat came to get them. As you can imagine, the excursion workers were busy trying to accommodate the people that wanted to return earlier.
2. Since we had a long ride to the island, a good use of time would have been to teach us about the French island, provide a little history, and introduce themselves. Honestly, we did not even know their names. There was very little communication.
3. Since the island is French, everything is written in French. Upon arriving to the island, there were caution signs regarding poisonous snakes. We only figured this out because we came across 2 sea snakes. My husband knew how deadly they were and warned folks to stay away. However, I think tourists didn’t believe him and got an inch away from them to take pictures. I’m thinking the guides should have provided this info before arriving.
4. In defense of the tour workers, I believe they do not get very many ship visits. So, the tour company was extremely overwhelmed by the number of participants. I hope this feedback helps the company make improvements because the scenery was breathtaking and everyone should see this place!
5. I recommend that the tour company provide waivers. There were some potentially dangerous occurrences: entering and exiting the boat was not ideal. It was wavy, and we had to step onto a rubber shuttle boat that required finesse. For older, younger, non-athletes and overweight people it was reckless. The waiver should include the likelihood of an encounter with venomous snakes.
With all the above being said, we LOVED the excursion. This excursion could be one of the best I’ve been on with some changes made in the process. Also, the cost was very reasonable.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Overall Summary
Following your feedback, we have carefully taken all your observations into consideration.
Point 1 – Change of vessel
Due to an engine issue on one of our fast boats early that morning, it was replaced with a slower catamaran in order to maintain the excursion for around twenty passengers. The passengers concerned were informed that their return would be delayed by one hour (1:30 pm instead of 12:30 pm), which they initially accepted. However, during the trip, some passengers expressed the need to return strictly at 12:30 pm for fear of missing their cruise ship departing at 3:15 pm. This required transferring passengers between vessels, creating operational difficulties despite their initial agreement.
Point 2 – Crew communication
The skipper and crew member, who usually provide information about the island and the lifestyle in New Caledonia, were unable to perform this role as usual. They had to focus on managing passenger dissatisfaction and stress from those insisting on an earlier return.
Point 3 – Banded sea snakes
Banded sea snakes are indeed venomous but are considered harmless to humans. They almost never bite, and if they do, they do not inject venom. Only one bite without venom injection has been recorded in New Caledonia over the past 30 years. For this reason, no specific information is given about their presence, in order to avoid unnecessary fear—particularly among visitors who may be especially anxious about snakes.
Point 4 – Cruise ship operations
The team is highly experienced in handling cruise ships, with approximately 150 ships arriving in New Caledonia each year and over 20 years of operation, representing more than 3,000 cruise ships in total. The impression of being overwhelmed was due to the cruise ship’s late arrival: passengers were scheduled to arrive at our terminal at 7:30/7.45 am but arrived at 8:15 am instead, leaving only 15 minutes to board 150 passengers while managing various issues. Despite this, operations remained under control.
Point 5 – Weather conditions
Unexpected sea swell (1 to 1.5 meters), rare for this beach and not forecasted, made boarding and disembarking more challenging. The crew is accustomed to operating in difficult conditions, but understands that this may have surprised passengers. Liability waivers are accepted at the time of online booking through the general terms and conditions, which include potential risks during boarding, disembarking, or navigation.
Conclusion
While you ultimately enjoyed the excursion, your feedback confirms that adjustments are sometimes necessary when weather conditions are unfavorable or when cruise ships arrive late. These scenarios have already been anticipated for future cruise calls. All feedback is valuable and contributes to continuous improvement, as each season brings new experiences and lessons learned through 20 years of operation.
Sue_B, Jan 2026
A truly wonderful trip! We swam with lots of turtles and fish. I even saw a reef shark. Lovely staff.
Wendy_L, Jan 2026
Smooth water taxi ride to see many turtles, a variety of fish, minimal coral, an eel and a shark resting on the bottom. The island had a few picnic tables, but nothing else. We had a great time.
Cheryl_P, Jan 2026
Taking the Water Taxi to Signal Island has been a highlight of our trip thus far. We swam with the turtles and saw beautiful fish as well. The ride to and from the Island was an added bonus. I got some fantastic under water photo's and videos as well. Great day!
Scott_D, Jan 2026
You would really have to try not to see a turtle on this tour and the island is a lovely place to relax. Highly recommend.
SueEllen_K, Jan 2026
This was absolutely wonderful experience. Take your own snorkel gear if possible. However, they can supply you with some. Saw lots of turtles, reef shark and fish. Spent almost 4 hours there. The island is perfect for those whom want privacy and serenity.
The Zodiac ride could possibly be rough so just be aware.
Misty_M, Jan 2026
You will see turtles and the boat captains are very good at their job.
Bring water and snacks, but actually the four hours went by very fast. The boat ride was not nearly as rough as the lakes in Kansas!
Dawna_B, Jan 2026
This is a nice experience. Boat ride is like being in a regular lake boat for skiing. Can be bumpy but not terrible.
The beach is real nice with soft sand and turquoise water. Be sure to bring water shoes as there is lots of coral on the beach and in the water. Today the water wasn’t too clear and there weren’t a lot of fish but we did see a few sea turtles and that was great!
There is no restaurants or facilities that we saw so bring lots of water, also very little shade.
Fun day of snorkeling and sun bathing.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
The guest did join the tour as planned, however it’s important to understand that water clarity can vary depending on weather and sea conditions, which are completely beyond our control.
If someone is looking for guaranteed perfect weather and visibility, the best option would be to stay several days in Nouméa and choose the best day. When traveling on a cruise, with only one day available, it is unfortunately a bit of a lottery.
That being said, the main objective of the tour — swimming with turtles — was 100% achieved.
For this reason, we do not fully understand the bad rating, but we still thank you for sharing your experience.
angelique_t, Jan 2026
Diving is great. But being left for so
Long on island wasn’t great with no
Options for water etc to drink. Was literally dropped at island. Found out others paid less when they booked.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Angelique,
We are surprised by your review, as the service provided was exactly what was sold: a water taxi transfer to Signal Island.
As clearly mentioned in the Viator tour description:
Please note: this is not a guided snorkeling tour.
Snorkeling is very easy (shallow water, no current), making it ideal for families with children.
Nouméa Turtle Tour only includes water taxi transportation to Signal Island.
We do provide masks, snorkels, and floating noodles on board (please ask the skipper if you need any). However, there is no snorkeling guide in the water.
Guests snorkel independently, and the skipper provides snorkeling instructions and safety information before departure, but does not accompany guests in the water.
For future bookings, we kindly recommend carefully reading the tour description to ensure the experience matches your expectations and to avoid any disappointment.
Kind regards,
From $65.08
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
