Dive sites in Papua New Guinea
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Rabaul Wrecks
Rabaul · East New Britain Province · Papua New Guinea
A graveyard of Japanese WWII warships and aircraft in a volcanically active harbour, where history and marine life merge beneath the warm waters of New Britain.
Wewak WWII Wrecks
Wewak · East Sepik Province · Papua New Guinea
A former Japanese military stronghold where bombed transport ships, landing craft, and aircraft wrecks lie scattered across the bay floor, now smothered in tropical coral growth and teeming with reef fish.
Jais Aben Reef
Madang · Madang Province · Papua New Guinea
A diverse coral reef system directly off Madang's coast where World War II history meets exceptional biodiversity on a sloping reef with mantas, reef sharks, and over 400 coral species in crystal lagoon water.
Dinah's Beach (Lauadi)
Alotau · Milne Bay · Papua New Guinea
A world-renowned muck diving site on Milne Bay's northern shore where a gentle volcanic sand slope hosts an astonishing density of rare critters, making it a macro photographer's ultimate pilgrimage.
Milne Bay
Alotau · Milne Bay Province · Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's muck diving capital where bizarre critters, pristine reefs, and WWII wrecks converge in one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth.
Suzie's Bommie
Kavieng · New Ireland · Papua New Guinea
A legendary isolated coral bommie in Kavieng's lagoon packed with more marine life per square metre than almost anywhere on Earth, from pygmy seahorses to schooling barracuda around a single coral head.
Kavieng Albatross Passage
Kavieng · New Ireland Province · Papua New Guinea
A deep channel between New Ireland and a small offshore island near Kavieng where powerful tidal currents funnel through a narrow passage, attracting grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, dogtooth tuna, and schooling barracuda in one of Papua New Guinea's premier shark dives.
Tufi Fjords
Tufi · Oro Province · Papua New Guinea
Volcanic fjords plunging hundreds of metres in Papua New Guinea's Northern Province where vertical walls of black coral, pristine soft coral gardens, and rare critters exist in near-total isolation.
Fathers Reefs
Kimbe · West New Britain · Papua New Guinea
A cluster of volcanic seamounts in the centre of Kimbe Bay rising from deep water, famous for pristine hard coral gardens, dense fish aggregations, and as a research site for marine biodiversity studies.
Kimbe Bay
Kimbe · West New Britain Province · Papua New Guinea
The coral capital of the world, sheltering 60 percent of Indo-Pacific coral species on seamounts, walls, and pristine reefs.
Dive centers in Papua New Guinea
Walindi Plantation Resort Diving
Kimbe · Kimbe Bay · Papua New Guinea
Premier resort dive center in Kimbe Bay offering world-class biodiversity diving on pristine coral reefs.
Tufi Resort Dive Center
Tufi · Northern Province · Papua New Guinea
Remote resort dive center in Tufi offering pristine fjord diving and WWII wreck exploration in Papua New Guinea.
PRO Dive PNG
Port Moresby Central Province · Madang · Papua New Guinea
Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort
Hewiia 211 Milne Bay Province · Madang · Papua New Guinea
Diving in Papua New Guinea
Dive sites in Papua New Guinea include wreck, reef, muck, channel, wall, seamount locations across East New Britain Province, East Sepik Province, Madang Province, Milne Bay, Milne Bay Province, New Ireland, New Ireland Province, Oro Province, West New Britain, West New Britain Province. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
What types of wrecks can be dived at Rabaul?
Rabaul harbour contains a diverse collection of WWII Japanese wrecks including submarines, transport ships, barges, and aircraft. The most famous include a Japanese submarine, several large Maru transport vessels, and a near-intact Zero fighter plane. Some wrecks sit in shallow water suitable for recreational divers, while deeper wrecks require advanced certification. The volcanic eruption of 1994 buried some shallower wrecks in ash, but many remain accessible.
Is Rabaul safe to visit given the volcanic activity?
Rabaul has active volcanoes including Tavurvur, which erupted catastrophically in 1994, burying much of the old town. The volcanoes are monitored continuously by the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory, and an early warning system is in place. Dive operators maintain close contact with the observatory and adjust plans if activity increases. The volcanic landscape adds a dramatic dimension to the diving experience, and the mineral-rich water supports lush coral growth.
How do I get to Rabaul for wreck diving?
Air Niugini and PNG Air operate flights from Port Moresby to Tokua airport near Rabaul, with connections sometimes available from Lae or other PNG cities. The flight from Port Moresby takes approximately one hour and forty minutes. Several small dive operators in Rabaul offer guided wreck diving trips. Liveaboard vessels occasionally include Rabaul in their itineraries. Accommodation ranges from simple guesthouses to comfortable lodges in the Kokopo area.
What WWII wrecks can I dive at Wewak?
Wewak was a major Japanese military base during World War II and was subjected to extensive Allied bombing from 1943 to 1945. The harbour and surrounding waters contain multiple wrecks including Japanese transport ships, landing barges, and at least two aircraft. The most accessible wrecks are in the main bay at depths of 10 to 25 metres. Some wrecks have been identified through wartime records while others remain unidentified. The wrecks are heavily encrusted with coral and support dense marine life, making them equally interesting as wreck dives and reef dives.
How do I get to Wewak and arrange diving?
Wewak is accessible by air from Port Moresby with Air Niugini and PNG Air, with flights several times per week. The town has basic infrastructure including hotels and guesthouses. Dive facilities in Wewak are limited compared to more established PNG dive destinations like Kimbe Bay or Milne Bay. You may need to arrange diving through local contacts or a specialist PNG dive travel operator. Some liveaboard operators include Wewak in their itineraries on extended voyages. Bringing your own essential equipment is recommended.