Diving Rabaul Wrecks Reefs and Jetties... In January 1942, just 46 days after their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese Imperial Forces redirected their attention southward and launched an invasion of Papua New Guinea. Their primary objective was the capture of Rabaul on the north-east tip of the large island of New Britain. Specifically, they wanted Rabaul’s Simpson Harbour. And its sheltered, deep-water anchorages as the base for their South Seas 4th Fleet. The first stage of taking all of PNG and then using it as their launch pad to invade Australia. And seize it they did by completely overwhelming the small …
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea dive locations and information
Diving New Britain’s Fathers Reefs
Diving New Britain's Fathers Reefs... The large crescent shaped island of New Britain is almost uniquely located on the interface of some unbelievably powerful forces of nature. Physically, it sits on the south-western arc of the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire. And is characterized by the exceptionally high mountain ranges that traverse its spine. Together with its many volcanoes! But that location also positions it on the epicenter of the eastern lobe of the renowned Coral Triangle. The world’s richest known area of marine biodiversity. And, in a roughly rectangular area about one-third the size of Tasmania. The north coast of New …
The Ultimate Milne Bay Adventure
Ultimate Milne Bay Adventure... Milne Bay was first place I ever visited in Papua New Guinea. And even after many years and several return trips, my fascination with the area endures to this day. It’s a truly special place with much to see. But it is also a really big area and logistically, getting to all the best locations and spending sufficient time there in a single trip can be a challenge. 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of that initial journey. And so I wanted to orchestrate something really special to celebrate my on-going fascination with PNG, its people, their rich cultures, and of course the diving. So, I embarked on …
The Ghosts of the Machines
Kavieng WWII Aircraft Wrecks... World War II came to the Australian territory of New Guinea in January 1942 when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Rabaul in New Britain. Followed shortly after by the taking of Kavieng in nearby New Ireland. The invasion turned New Guinea into a major theatre of war in the battle for the Pacific. And there were many brutal encounters between the invading Japanese and the defending Australian forces. Conditions were often appalling; the fighting was incredibly fierce, and many young lives were lost on both sides. To this day the poignant relics of those battles are woven into the fabric of the now …
Diving Beautiful Tufi
Diving Beautiful Tufi... The sun was just breaking as we walked across the tarmac towards the small plane that would take us over the mountains. Anxious to leave on time and with a busy day ahead of them. The two-person TropicAir crew ushered us into our seats as they continued their pre-departure checks. Within minutes we were taxiing towards the runway for our take-off from Port Moresby’s Jackson Field. Once airborne the pilot turned the plane south-east. Heading down the coast as we gained enough altitude to turn north and cross those 4000m high peaks. Early morning is the best time to make that journey over the Owen Stanley …
The Wonderful Witu Islands
The Witu Islands... As they say in the real estate business – location, location, location… And it is Papua New Guinea’s location astride the Equator and at the end of what was historically referred to as the Malay Archipelago, that puts it right in the middle of the greatest marine biodiversity on earth - the Coral Triangle. The country occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea (the second largest in the world after Greenland). Plus the many islands of the Bismarck and Louisiade Archipelagos. And… because it straddles the Equator. PNG is exposed to both the Northern and Southern Equatorial Currents. Plus the …
Diving Kavieng in PNG
Diving Kavieng in PNG... A window seat on the early morning flight out of Kavieng is the go. It's my favourite way to end a trip to this special part of Papua New Guinea. For, as the sun rises out of the vast Pacific Ocean to the east. It paints a beautiful soft light over the dozens of small islands and mangroves that fill the gap between the tip of New Ireland and nearby New Hanover. The rich tropical vegetation starts to glow in the special golden hour light. And the channels between the islands turn to silver. Then, as the plane gathers altitude and banks south-west to start the journey to Port Moresby, the complete tapestry is …
Witu Islands Diving – Dec 2022 Trip Report
Witu Islands Diving... Some two years and nine months (almost to the day…) after I had to scramble to get out of Papua New Guinea before the borders closed. In early December 2022 I arrived back at Hoskins airport in Kimbe Bay to pick up where I left off. PNG only opened its borders fully to tourists in August. But it seems there are many others like me who were itching to get back as the boat was full. A really great sign after virtually zero inbound tourism for 2.5 years… I was heading for Walindi Plantation Resort where I was booked on board the MV Oceania. For one of its “signature” trips to the Witu Islands in the Bismarck …
Diving Kimbe Bay in PNG
Diving Kimbe Bay in PNG... There is a line of thought among the scientific community that this large, sheltered bay. Located roughly one third along the north coast of the island of New Britain is possibly where the first corals originated. The bay is called Kimbe. And is no doubt about its tremendous biodiversity because the numbers, as they say, cannot lie… Surveys of Kimbe Bay led by distinguished marine biologists Charlie Veron and Jerry Allen. Together with The Nature Conservancy, have identified some 860 species of reef fish, 400 species of coral and at least 12 species of whales and dolphins. Or, put another way... Kimbe …