West New Britain has fantastic diving. You should include this destination in
your PNG trip, especially if you are into underwater photography.
A chain of
dormant volcanoes forms the scenic boundaries of Kimbe Bay, encompassing hundreds
of submerged reefs and more than a dozen islands. Scientists studying the region
have already identified more than 900 species of fish and 400 species of corals.
Willaumez Peninsula on one side and the main land of West New Britain on the
other side are sheltering Kimbe Bay which is of impressive size and beauty.
You
can dive in this area all year round. However, the best season is mid- August
to late December and again between February and May/June. In August it can be
quite windy.
Visibility ranges from 55-50 metres (80- 50 ft.), water temperatures
range between 27-30 degrees Celsius (85- 90 F). Weather is tropical, with only
little seasonal variation. Diving is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers.
As the reef tops are shallow, snorkellers will enjoy the reefs.
How To Get
There
New Britain is PNG's largest island. West New Britain Province is the western
part of the Island with its capital Kimbe, which is a very small town. It is the
production centre for palm oil and timber plantations.
Dive excursions start
in Walindi, which is approximately a 45 minutes drive from the airport in Hoskins.
Walindi Plantation Resort is also located here.
Hoskins is the airport for
the region (HKN). It has daily flights coming in from Port Moresby and Rabaul.
The flights are on Air Niugini's F28 jets.
Diving
You can be land-based
in Walindi Plantation Resort, or to go on a live aboard vessel, the FeBrina or
Star Dancer - or do a combination of both! If you stay at the resort, you will
dive Kimbe Bay area, which has a huge variety of dive sites to offer.
With live aboard diving, the entire coast of New Britain and nearby islands are
possible: Kimbe Bay, Witu Islands and Fathers Reef are the most popular destinations.The
area offers a lot of variety in diving.
Characteristics of the West New Britain
area include the huge range of giant soft coral species, the abundance of barrel
and elephant sponges and the prolific marine life. Coral can grow to enormous
sizes in Kimbe Bay, as it is so well sheltered there. Sometimes plate corals just
collapse under their own heavy weight, because they grow bigger here than normally.
Additionally Whale, Orca and Dolphin encounters are not unusual here.
Kimbe
Bay: Very sheltered and the diving is usually very calm and relaxing. There
a lot of outstanding dive sites (more than 190 reefs). The reefs are rising from
approx. 600 metres (1800 feet). Drift dives are possible and offered sometimes.
When Dolphins are in the area, they offer snorkelling with them by towing people
behind the boat. All dives in this part of the world are exceptional.
Everything
that is part of the tropical ecosystem exists in this bay. Dolphins, sometimes
even Orcas and dugongs but also tiny decorator crabs and most rare nudibranchs
are to be seen there. These waters are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures
and corals. Within Kimbe Bay one can find everything, starting with massive coral
reefs, atolls and older reefs, close to the coast, were the coral growth is very
well supported. The fish life is very colourful and rich. Recent marine surveys
in Kimbe Bay have recorded over 350 species of reef building corals, and over
900 species of fish.
The reefs are a photographer's paradise. Pristine and colourful corals are home
to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have
resident schools of barracuda, tuna and jacks. Almost all diving is done at the
far western end of Kimbe Bay. Willaumez Peninsula on one side and the main land
of West New Britain on the other side are sheltering Kimbe Bay which is of impressive
size and beauty.
Walindi Plantation Resort is the basis for a dive holiday
in Kimbe Bay. Great diving and luxury accommodation are the reason that Walindi
is one of the most wanted destinations in Papua New Guinea. This is true not only
for divers, but also for non-divers.
Witu Islands: a very pretty island
group which offers a lot of variety in diving. The islands are of volcanic origin.
Garove Island (about 60 km northwest of Kimbe Bay) was a large volcano in the
past. The crater is now flooded with water (approx. 300 meters deep) and makes
for some great diving around the island that was created within the volcano's
caldera. The landscape is awesome! There are nutrient rich currents in the area,
so marine life is very diverse. At dive sites like "Lama Shoals" you
are in for big fish like barracudas, trevally, large dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel,
and sharks. The reefs here are grown over by gorgonian fans, black corals, different
species of soft corals and hydroids. You also get "muck diving" around
the Witu islands. The so-called "muck diving" is done in areas with
sand and rubble bottom, where you find all sorts of weird but wonderful creatures.
In PNG, Milne Bay is already well known for "muck diving", but "Dicky's
Place" offers something similar! Here, watch out for tailed seaslugs, nudibranchs,
razor fish and much more.
Fathers Reef: a chain of reefs out in the open ocean, northeast of Kimbe
Bay, about 26 km away from an island called Lolobau. Pelagics such as silvertip,
grey reef sharks and barracudas are some of the attractions here. The reef formation
and invertebrate life here are also worth a visit.
"Fathers Arch"
for example has the arch top (at 25 meters), which is full of soft corals and
gorgonians. "Jayne's Gully" is a dive site which is located in a channel
between two reefs. Here, the sides of the reef are covered with beautiful soft
corals and if the current is right, you will get the sharks and other big fish
in as well on this dive. Febrina quite often has dolphin encounters in this area,
which is an awesome treat, especially when the dolphins are playful.
A range
of shark species is regularly sighted, including hammerheads and silvertips, particularly
at the outer reefs of Fathers and Witu.
Other Activities
Walindi
is not only for divers. If you just want to snorkel, have a family holiday, or
explore WWII remains you are in the right spot.
You can go fishing, or play
tennis at the resorts court. Ask the staff for guided trekking tours or go bird
watching in the rainforests nearby. Attractions not to miss are the various hot
springs in the volcanic mountains. Your walks through the forests will also pass
by some of the wrecked planes and tanks - all left overs from WWII. After these
activities the resort pool invites you for a cooling swim.
Live Aboard Dive
Operators
Independent
