Scuba Diving In Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea should be at the top of any true diver’s list! It possesses some of the best dive sites in the world. About twice the amount of fish species compared to the Red Sea, and roughly ten times as many species of corals are found here compared to the Caribbean. The country's mystique is enhanced by the fact that large sections of the island have never been charted by Westerners, and furthermore by the stunning trick of time meaning that some of its inhabitants had seen the airplane before they emerged from the Stone Age!

Travel to Papua New Guinea and discover its well-deserved reputation for its spectacular diving. If you have ever gone Raja Ampat liveaboard diving in Indonesia you’ll know what we mean; if not, PNG travel will be an experience that will make you want to come back to this part of the world until you have seen it all!  The country is surrounded by the Bismarck, Coral and Solomon Seas, whose constant movements feed the rich marine environment. From tiny nudibranchs to the world's biggest fish -- the harmless whale shark -- divers will encounter a huge array of exotic species.

The deep waters which are only a couple of feet away from the beaches boast vertically dropping reef walls which reach down to 1000 feet or more, coral gardens, patch and fringing reefs, sea grass beds and coral atolls. This can be found on most parts of the northern coastline, on the southern shores of New Hanover and New Ireland and in some areas of the Milne Bay. In the more sheltered bays delicate coral formations are spreading to enormous size, which cannot be found on barrier reefs. This is typical for Kimbe Bay in West New Britain.

Hundreds of wrecks, many of them World War II wrecks, are scattered across the seabed. Boats, planes, barges and submarines, some of them still in excellent condition  and easily accessible from the coast, have been transformed into living coral reefs. Rabaul, Kavieng, Loloata (Port Moresby) and Madang are good places to go for wreck diving.

Another fantastic dive destination is the Eastern Fields which is to be found 170 km south west of Port Moresby. Located between Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Eastern Fields are a truly unspoilt part of the Coral Sea. Home to over 2,000 species of fish it is truly a diver`s dream come true. You will find whatever you are looking for in the waters of New Guinea. The colors are vivid, the schools of thousands of pelagics awe inspiring, the reef fish prolific and the water crystal clear. There are walls, slopes, cracks, crevices, shoals, swim-throughs, arches - you name it, PNG travel will reveal it.

“PNG” as it’s commonly called, has been independent since 1975. Travel Port Moresby, a modern and developed capital city, and find there are a good number of outlying areas and islands which retain their rustic and rugged nature.

East from the capital, there’s some incredible diving to be done off the islands of New Ireland and New Britain. New Ireland features World War II wrecks and pelagics, while colorful reefs line the north and south coasts of New Britain. Liveaboards on that island depart from the cities of Rabaul, Hoskins and Kimbe. But it’s the southern side of New Britain that tempts wide-angle photographers with sites full of schooling barracuda and jacks and macro photographers with cleaning stations and seamounts.

No doubt, New Guinea is a photographer’s dream, both underwater and on land. That’s why PNG travel should include shore excursions from your live-aboard dive boats or resort. This land of contrasts has much to offer the adventure traveler - trekking, mountain climbing, white-water rafting, canoe trips, a spectacular display of flora and fauna, a wealth of World War II relics, a unique cultural exchange and perhaps the world's finest scuba diving.

Scuba Dive Asia represents the finest resorts and live-aboard accommodations in Papua New Guinea and will make sure you will have an unforgettable experience here.


VISA Visa may be issued on arrival at Port Moresby for stay up to 30 days. The passport must have at least 6 months remaining validity and must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay. All visitors must have an outward ticket and sufficient funds to facilitate duration of stay.

LANGUAGE The official language is English, which is widely used in business and government circles. Pidgin English and Hiri Motu are more commonly used (an estimated 742 other languages and dialects are also spoken).

TIME GMT +10

CURRENCY The official currency is the Kina, or PGK.
Exchange facilities are available through trade banks.American Express is the most widely accepted credit card; MasterCard and Visa are often accepted as well. Most shops and hotels accept traveller’s cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, traveller's are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Australian Dollars.

CLIMATE Hot, tropical climate at sea level, cooling towards the highlands which also cause climatic variation from one area to another, affecting the southeast trade winds and the northwest monsoons. The majority of the rain falls between December and March due to the northwest monsoon, although Port Moresby enjoys a dry season at this time.

VACCINES A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving within 10 days of leaving infected areas. Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please check with your embassy or consulate, as well as with a knowledgeable doctor, for detailed information on current health issues.

ELECTRICITY 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-style three-pin plugs are in use. Some hotels provide 110-volt outlets in guest-rooms.

AIRPORT TAX An airport tax of K30 (approximately 12 US$) is levied on international flights (usually included in the price of a ticket). Children under two years of age and passengers not leaving the airport are exempt.