From its rugged mountains and its low lying swamps, to steaming volcanoes and coral atolls, Papua New Guinea is a country of vast geographical diversity. Located just south of the Equator, Papua New Guinea covers a land mass of about 178,300 square miles, an area slightly larger than California. The country encompasses the eastern part of the Island; the second largest island in the world, plus some 600 other islands, atolls and coral reefs.
The country's extensive tropical rainforest provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of birdlife, including the world's smallest parrot and 38 of the 43 known species of birds of paradise. Papua New Guinea is famous for these brilliantly colored birds and many tribal groups use their plumes to decorate traditional costumes and headdresses, especially in the Highlands.
Papua New Guinea is truly the melting pot of Melanesia. Contained within its borders are more than 200 cultures, each with its own unique traditions and native languages. It is easy to understand why Papua New Guinea is considered one of the most diverse nations in the South Pacific.
Resorts/Dive Operators
Walindi Plantation Resort - Located on the North Coast of New Britain, Walindi Plantation Resort is world renowned. Voted as the best diving Resort anywhere in the world by reader surveys, the staff and hospitality will ensure your stay is memorable. The resort only caters to a maximum of twenty-four guests, which means you receive the undivided attention you deserve. Good company, great food, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere provide a perfect backdrop for you to enjoy the delights of Kimbe Bay diving.
Loloata Island Resort - Loloata offers the unique qualities of convenience and untouched natural beauty. The resort island is only 15 minutes from the international airport in Port Moresby, but you'll feel like you're a world away on this beautiful Melanesian garden isle. Its world class scuba services offers adventurous wreck dives throughout Bootless Bay, night dives and superb diving excursions to nearby Horshoe Reef Marine Park.
View a Quicktime slide show of Loloata Images
Lissenung Island Resort - Located about 20 minutes by boat out of Kavieng, Lissenung Island Resort sits on a small private island with coconut palms and a beautiful white sand beach. There are only four bungalows on the island, with a total of seven rooms. Lissenung Diving offers daily trips to the outer reefs, drop offs and wrecks
Tawali Resort – Hidden away and only accessible by boat, Tawali Resort may be Papua New Guinea's best kept scuba diving secret. Located on a volcanic bluff overlooking the clear protected waters of Milne Bay, Tawali offers travelers a unique location to dive, relax and enjoy the unspoiled wonders of this magnificent part of the world.
View a Quicktime slide show of Images from Tawali Resort
Tufi Resort - An inviting place to relax and relive the day’s activities. The resort, although primarily a dive resort, offers a wide range of recreational activities including blue water fishing, canoeing, bushwalking, bird and butterfly watching. For the naturalists, Tufi is home for many of the worlds most exquisite orchids.
South Pacific Island Travel also recommends Jais Aben, located near Madang and their dive operation, Aquaventures Diving.
Trans Niugini Tours is Papua New Guinea's leading inbound tour operator. Trans Niugini Tours owns and operates a number of award winning Wilderness Lodges including; Ambua Lodge in the Southern Highlands, Karawari Lodge in the Sepik Basin, Malolo Plantation Lodge on the coast near Madang and the Sepik Spirit which cruises the middle reaches of the Sepik river and the Blackwater Lakes.
Other tour operators include Melanesian Tourist Services, PNG Tourism, and New Guinea Expeditions.
Papua New Guinea Live-Aboards
Kalibobo Spirit - The 100 foot luxury motor yacht was built in 2004 in New Zealand. It was refitted in Picton and Cairns before commencing service in PNG in October 2007. The ship has 4 decks, below aft there are 6 queen size cabins, forward 3 double bunk cabins and a Stateroom on the Bridge Deck. All cabins are air conditioned, LCD TV's, telephone and adequate storage. The maximum capacity is 20.
The 72 foot MV FeBrina dives the areas of Kimbe Bay and surrounding waters along the northern coast of New Britain. Included in that area are sights such as the Witu Islands to the north west and Fathers Reefs to the north east of Kavieng. These waters are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals.
Peter Hughes’ 120 foot Star Dancer offers divers the opportunity to visit many times without ever repeating sites. From January through March and during July and August, Star Dancer embarks from Rabaul. Here divers can enjoy some of the best critter diving, including a great variety fans and whips, sharks, frog fish and much more. The rest of the year, Star Dancer embarks from Walindi Plantation offering a variety of itineraries which include Kimbe Bay, Father's Reef, Lolabau Island and the Witu Islands.
MY Spirit of Niugini - the latest addition to the Tawali Family. A luxury 16 passenger live aboard dive vessel formerly operating as Aqua One out of Thailand. MY Spirit of Niugini gives guests the opportunity to maximize their PNG experience by diving the pristine waters of Kimbe Bay, Rabaul, and the islands off of East Britain. Heading into fall explore Milne Bay and beyond to the best of what has been discovered in the last 20 years. Each trip will feel like an exploratory trip, as you will be hitting the little known Conflict Islands, Engineer Group, Samarai, Trobriands, Duke of Yorks and many other small undiscovered reefs. Join us in September 2008 for an underwater photo workshop!
The Sepik Spirit is the ultimate floating lodge for the adventurer who desires all the comforts of civilization while traversing the mysterious middle reaches of the mighty Sepik River. The Sepik Spirit has two weekly three-night live-aboard cruises into the seldom visited Middle Sepik and Black-Water Lakes areas.
South Pacific Island Travel also recommends Chertan, Golden Dawn, Melanesian Discoverer, Telita and Tiata for live-aboard adventures.
