Diving in Papua New Guinea

The waters of Papua New Guinea have corals and fish in both abundance and variety. The shores of Papua, New Britain, and surrounding smaller islands together support the fourth largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, including more than 40 species and some of the world's highest densities of coral cover. The range of marine life is equally rich, with more than twice the biodiversity of the Red Sea, and more than five times that of the Caribbean. Most any coastal area in the country is ripe for underwater exploration, but diving activities center around a number of self-sufficient liveaboards and comfortable waterfront resorts on New Britain and the main island of Papua. Near the big island's eastern tip, Milne Bay is credited as the original muck diving site, where dark volcanic sands provide habitat for a range of enigmatic and unusual creatures. But there's much more to Milne than muck, including the large coral heads known as bommies that rise to within a few feet of the surface. These formations provide habitat for small reef dwellers such as seahorses, octopi, dwarf lionfish, and frogfish, and become gathering points for schools of trevally and sharks. Offshore sites are washed in currents that also attract hammerheads, manta rays and even the occasional whale shark or minke whale. Some 120 miles to the northwest, the coastline at Tufi takes on a very different character, with deep fjords surrounded by rainforest-clad hills. Calm, clear waters within the fjords allow sponges and certain varieties of coral to grow to immense sizes and support rich communities of macro life that include numerous species of goby and nudibranchs, mandarin fish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses, and more. Outside the fjords, pinnacles rise from depths of a half-mile while signature wrecks in the area include the Dutch cargo ship S Jacob and an intact B17 bomber. On the north coast of New Britain Island , Kimbe Bay is the epitome of a coral garden. More than 400 species of hard corals thrive in the calm waters of the bay—representing more than half of all hard corals found worldwide. Soft corals, reef fish and invertebrates are found in equal abundance. Reef formations near the mouth of the bay drop into oceanic depths and add a range of larger fish. Kimbe is also the departure point for trips to offshore pinnacles that serve as magnets for pelagics, and cruises to Father's Reef and the submerged volcanic landscapes of the Witu Islands.

Entry Requirements: All U.S. citizens are required to present a valid passport which must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry into the country. Proof of onward or return ticket may be required and you must have at least 1 blank page in your passport for the entry stamp. Visas are required for entry for stays less than 60 days which are given upon arrival for tourist stays.

Exit Requirements: All persons leaving PNG, pay a Government Departure Tax which should be included in your airline ticket.

While there are no required vaccines for entry into Papua New Guinea, it is always recommended that you check with your doctor and the Centers for Disease Control on recommended vaccinations for travel at cdc.gov.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most fascinating and primeval destinations on earth. It is a land of smoldering volcanoes, impenetrable forests, exotic wildlife and still more exotic cultures. With few roads, vast tracts of the interior highlands remained unknown to the outside world until the mid 20th century. This region is home to isolated tribal communities that speak more than 800 distinct languages. Village elders are one generation away from a stone-age heritage, and much of the nation still embraces broad elements of traditional lifestyles and dress. Elaborate rituals accompany marriages, deaths, rites of passage and ceremonial eats. Cultural gatherings such as sing sings are not performed for tourists but are an actual gathering of tribes to resolve conflicts and disputes through competitive song and dance rather than warfare. In addition to unique cultural interactions that can include stays in traditional villages, visitors can engage in a range of eco adventures, from birding excursions to mountain treks and river trips in dugout canoes.

Electricity in PNG is 240 volts, 50 Hz, similar to Australia, so an adapter will be needed for U.S. visitors. Some hotels have 110 adapters for hair dryers and shavers. The country code for PNG is 675. Check with your cell phone provider for international plans including data, text and voice. Some hotels offer WiFi, but internet service can be spotty.

In general, drinking the tap water is not recommended. It is best to drink bottled water throughout the country.

English and Tok Pisin are the official languages, but most communication is via Tok Pisin. There are over 800 indigenous languages spoken among the various native tribes. The local currency is the Papua New Guinea Kina (PGK) but U.S. dollars are accepted in some places. Check the currency rate here. ATM cards can be used at banks. It is recommended to change some money in Port Moresby upon arrival if possible.

Papua New Guinea utilizes Papua New Guinea Time or PGT which is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+10 GMT). PNG does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Papua New Guinea is a large island located in the southwestern Pacific and accounts for the eastern half of New Guinea and it’s numerous other offshore islands. The island is located 160 kilometers north of Australia. There are some 600 offshore islands off of Papua New Guinea. The size of Papua New Guinea is approximately 178,000 square miles (about the size of California) with the main island having the bulk of the surface area. The island of New Britain is approximately 14,000 square miles.

The population of Papua New Guinea is 7.77 Million (2016).