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The Complete Guide to Diving Port Moresby

Let Indopacificimages’ Complete Guide to Diving Port Moresby help you plan your trip to, or through, the capital of PNG. 

Simply stated, Port Moresby has a terrible reputation… It is regularly rated as one of the more dangerous cities in the world! But is it really the near-death experience it seems? Should you even be considering going there? Or is the wiser to simply avoid it like the plague?

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - The view over Port Moresby from Paga Hill
The view over Port Moresby from Paga Hill

For sure Port Moresby is definitely not for everybody. But it is the main (and currently only) international gateway in to Papua New Guinea.

Therefore if you want to experience what the country has to offer, both above and below the water, there is really no choice but to go there.

So your options are to try and transit through Port Morseby as quickly as possible.

Or make the most of the situation and sample the surprisingly good diving to be had around Port Moresby!

The question I get asked most is “is it safe to go to Papua New Guinea“. So much so that I have written a whole section called The Complete Papua New Guinea Survival Guide to help people better understand the risks.

For what it is worth, my opinion is that the risks associated with Port Moresby can be managed safely with some common sense and a degree of caution.

The sections below describe specific aspects, areas and dive sites of Port Moresby. Please use the links provided to explore the Complete Guide to Diving Port Moresby and learn a bit more about the capital of Papua New Guinea. If you don’t find what you are looking for I am good to answer questions through the Contact  page. But please read the content first….


Port Moresby 101

The capital city of PNG and the main gateway in to the country is located on a spectacular headland that faces out in to Gulf of Papua.

The city has a real image problem with an entrenched reputation as a violent and dangerous place. But what is the reality – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Port Moresby
Port Moresby

Diving Port Moresby

Overshadowed and usually overlooked by divers passing through on their way to Milne Bay, Kimbe Bay in New Britain or Kavieng in New Ireland province.

But contrary to what you might expect so close to a capital city, there really is some very good diving in the Moresby area – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Port Morseby Rhinopias
Port Morseby Rhinopias

Port Moresby Dive Sites

While there are dive sites in the city’s Fairfax Harbor, the best diving is on the offshore Sinavi and Nateara and sunken barrier reefs.

Those offshore sites offer some tremendous diving. And which, in the right conditions, can rival some of the best sites in PNG – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Moresby Dive Site Map
Moresby Dive Site Map

Pacific Gas – The History

On a good day, and in the right conditions, the MV Pacific Gas is without doubt one of the best wreck dives in Papua New Guinea.

The ship started its life in Japan as the MS Nanayo Maru in 1967. And ended when it was scuttled on the sunken barrier reef in 1986 – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - The Pacific Gas
The Pacific Gas

Pacific Gas – Diving It

The wreck of the Pacific Gas sits on the slope of the sunken barrier reef. Its bow is in 18m of water, while the stern is down deep at 43m

The dive starts at the bow with a descent on the mooring line. And from there you can make your way to the wheelhouse – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Wheelhouse of the Pacific Gas
Wheelhouse of the Pacific Gas

Suzie’s Bommie

Hard to believe that such good diving could exist so close to a capital city. But when the conditions are right Suzie’s is world class diving!

Suzie’s is a sea-mount on the sunken barrier reef that rises up from the sandy seabed at 30m to within 13m of the surface – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Schooling Barracuda at Suzie's
Schooling Barracuda at Suzie’s

Loloata Dive Resort

Loloata is somewhat of an institution in Port Moresby. As is has been very much an integral part of the local expatriate scene since the 1970’s.

But its days as a dive resort seem to be over. As it was sold in 2016 and it now seems the new owners will no longer offer scuba diving – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Loloata Island
Loloata Island

Transit in Port Moresby

As the only international gateway in to PNG. Transit in Port Moresby is something you will just have to do when traveling on to the main diving locations. 

Transferring to the domestic terminal for the internal flights seems a bit stressful. But it is actually only a 5 minute walk and quite straightforward – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Welcome to Port Moresby!
Welcome to Port Moresby!

Where to Stay?

Where to stay in Port Moresby used to be a a really tough question. As the options were really quite limited and also very expensive.

Things have improved quite significantly. But generally all accommodation is still expensive and sometimes it is unbelievably so – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - The Crowne Plaza Hotel
The Crowne Plaza Hotel

Things to do in Moresby

Contrary to what its bad reputation may suggest. There are actually quite a few good things to do in Moresby if you are staying over there.

The National Parliament, Botanic Gardens and the National Museum are well worth a visit. As are some of the local markets – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Colorful Bilums at Four Mile Market
Colorful Bilums at Four Mile Market

PNG Arts

PNG Arts is almost a local institution. It is really a “must do” if you are interested in the traditional arts and crafts of Papua New Guinea.

Don’t be fooled by the exterior. Inside is an absolute treasure trove of artifacts that come direct from the villages that make them – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Traditional artifacts at PNG Arts
Traditional artifacts at PNG Arts

Moresby’s Stilt Villages

Hanuabada and Koki are the only remaining stilt villages in Port Moresby. They are both interesting places to visit if you can manage to arrange one.

Both are Motu villages, who along with the Koitabu tribe, are the original New Guinea native people of the Port Moresby area – Read more…

Guide to Diving Port Moresby - Hanuabada Stilt Village
Hanuabada Stilt Village

Back To: The Complete Guide to Diving Papua New Guinea

 

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