DIVING AND SNORKELLING
Diving in East New Britain Province waters
The clean and blue tropical sea water of Rabaul, North Coast, Wotam Island, Kokopo, Duke of York Islands and Pomio provides a diving heaven for diving enthusiast. The water around the area is warmer and has pristine marine resources like different colorful fish and coral reefs as well as World War II wrecks.
Divers have identified about fifteen (15) excellent dive spots in and around the Gazelle Peninsula. They include the following as stated below:
World War II Wrecks in Rabaul Simpson Harbour
During World War II from 1943 to 1944, the Allied Forces heavily bombed Rabaul Harbour and sank a number of Japanese warships and other support ships that include:
- Manko Maru - refrigeration vessel weighing 1,502 tons.
It was sunk on the month of November 1943 by Captain Charles W. Howe of the U.S. 5th Division Air Force. Lion fish and Scorpion fish live around the wreck. - Italy Maru - Italy Maru was a large ship and weighing 5,859 tons.
- Yamayuri Maru - Yamayuri Maru weighs 5,028 tons.
George’s Wreck
George Wreck is located at Cape Tavui and was named after the person who first dived in there.
Pete Biplane Wreck is located at West of Tavui. It has soft corals and sponges.
Submarine Base
Submarine Base is located at East side of Cape Tavui. Japanese submarines used the area as a wharf during World War II from January 1942 to September 1945 to drop off supplies for Japanese soldiers. Caves were dug for storage of supplies.
Zero Fighter and Takubar Wreck
The Zero Fighter and Takubar Wreck is about 27 meters deep. Its open cockpit has many bait fish. The Takubar Wreck at Takubar has good corals and many kinds of fish.
Pigeon Island (Nanuk Island)
Pigeon Island which is between Rabaul and Kokopo and Duke of York Islands can be reached by banana boat from Rabaul and Kokopo beach and it has good reef and clear blue water for diving.
RAINBOW REEF AND HEAVEN’S GATE
The Duke of York Islands has a good number of reefs for diving or snorkeling. There is the Rainbow Reef near Maitri Island which is a colorful reef with many schools of fish surrounding it.
Another reef is the Heaven’s Gate and has a big drop down a big wall. It has some of the colorful and best black corals. Shrimpfish and ghost pipefish live among the corals. Large fish such as barracuda, dogtooth tuna and eagle rays can also be seen in the Heaven’s Gate.
ST. GEORGE’S CHANNEL SEAMOUNT
The top of St. George’s Channel Seamount has a lot of sea fans, black corals, sea weeds and sponges. Large fish like sailfish, grey reef and silver sharks can also be seen there.
KULAU LODGE BEACH WRECKS
The Wrecks Kulau Lodge includes a Japanese World War II Zero fighter. There are a lot of marine species as sea turtles, dugong and shovel nose sharks. Divers will also see giant clams, juvenile red emperors, crocodile-fish and frogfish.
BP WHARF
There is also a dive spot called the BP Wharf in Talili Bay which is approximately close to Kulau Lodge.
Genuine stonefish, lionfish and scorpion-fish can be seen here. BP Wharf is also good for night dive.
WATOM ISLAND
Watom Island has unique underwater scenery. There is a Grotto which is a wall dive sculptured with massive cuts and cave in. Divers will find a lot of small soft corals and sponges on the northeast tip of Watom Island. On the south side of Watom Island, there is a Garden of Fans with shallow reefs. Divers can see turtles and grey reef sharks.
MIDWAY REEF
Midway Reef is a long narrow reef with deep water and has soft corals.
FRINGING REEFS
There are excellent corals with eagle rays, grey reef sharks and turtles which divers can see at the Fringing Reef dive site.
BANGKOK PASS
At Bangkok Pass, there is ample marine life like eagle rays, dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel, grey reef and silvertip sharks.
BALDWIN’S BRIDGE
A lot of fish swim around Baldwin’s Bridge which is covered with pink soft corals and sea whips. It is amazing sight, particularly in crystal clear water.
For more information about diving spots in East New Britain Contact the two license dive shop at Rapopo Beach Resort and Kabaira Beach Hideaway Guest House