Remote world class diving, trekking, kayaking & cultural
activities
"Scandinavia
in the Tropics", would be the right description for Tufi,
which is still a well kept secret on the international dive
market. The small community of Tufi is located 250 kms east
north-east of Port Moresby on the northern coast, roughly
half way between Lae & Alotau. Tufi is one of he most
remote and isolated areas in PNG, accessible only by a twin
otter aircraft that operates 3 days per week. There are no
roads connecting Tufi with any other regions in PNG.
TUFI
Cultural Show
JUNE 6-7, 2009
Visit one of PNG's most authentic celebration of traditional
culture.
Ask for Dive and Show packages.
Tufi Dive Resort is nestled into the flanking slopes of Mount Trafalgar
overlooking sheer rock faces that plunge into an enclosed picturesque
fjord draped in exotic rainforest down to the water's edge.
Click here
for general information about the diving regions of Tufi.
Features
Tufi
Resort is one of the more luxurious dive resorts in PNG, and offers
splendid 180 degree views over the fjord.
The
main building houses a dining room, lounge, bar, reception, office
and laundry. Built from timber to harmonise with tropical surroundings,
it features traditional woven walls and exquisite carvings from
many regions of PNG. It's an inviting place to relax, relive the
day's diving experiences and plan tomorrow's unique diving, trekking
or kayaking adventures. Outside is a terraced dining area with spectacular
views.
In the evening sit back, relax by the bar, and enjoy the sunset.
When you have worked up an appetite, the restaurant serves a lavish
mix of local seafood, vegetables and real tropical fruits. The tariff
includes all meals at the resort as well as lunch on dive excursions.
Accommodation
The
resort has 12 rooms, each with a double and single bed. The deluxe
units are just that probably the highest standard of accommodation
offered in PNG - spacious, adorned with local designs, timber floors
and all the mod-cons air con, ensuite bathrooms, hair dryer,
toiletries, tea & coffee making facilities etc.. Mercifully,
there's no TV in any of the rooms. Each unit has it's own large
private balcony overlooking the fjord.
The
conventional units offer the same facilities inside except that
the room is slightly smaller and not quite so well finished - also
the balconies offers slightly lesser views over the fjords!
Dive
Sites
There
are two distinctly different areas for diving at Tufi. The excellent
outer reef system and the sheltered fjords around Tufi, ideal for
"muck diving" opportunities. In addition, some wrecks
can be dived on longer outings.
Most of the outer reefs are located up to 1.5 hours away from the
the dive shop.
In this area there are many reefs to choose from - an underwater
landscape of sea mounts, pinnacles and vertical walls. Commercial
fishing is rare here so these reefs are in pristine condition. Visibility
is usually excellent, and the abundance of marine life is immediately
evident with schools of pelagics (jacks, barracuda, tuna, dolphins),
various shark species and a huge variety of healthy soft coral species
with all the accompanying macro-life you would expect. In particaular,
Mullaway Reef & Bev's Bommie are worth a special mention.
In contrast to outer reef sites, a muck dive from the wharf offers
the opportunity to encounter plenty of cool creatures - loads of
pipe fish, stone-fish, ghost pipe fish, nudibranch's, flat worms
and even some resident mandarin fish - plenty to keep the eyes peeled.
The best time to dive Tufi is from October to April each year.
Click here
for more information about diving Tufi.
Dive
Shop
The
dive operation is organised directly through the resort - the Tufi
Dive shop is located down by the wharf - a 5 minute walk or drive
from the resort. The shop is fully self-contained, there's sufficient
dive gear for hire and limited items for purchase available. It
is generally recommended to bring your own dive gear and spares.
The team at Tufi Dive consists of instructors, dive masters and
dive guides - all diving is carried out under the guidance of a
PADI open water instructor.
They have a fleet of three day boats, one a 7m (23') Stinger craft
with a 55hp outboard motor for inshore diving. A 5m (16') tri hulled
covered sightseeing vessel is available to transport guests around
the fjords and day trips to local villagers, and a 9.5 m (32') vessel
has also been acquired that will cater for all off shore day dives.
This vessel is fully equipped with dive platform, camera wash and
toilet and shower facilities. It has all of the modern navigation
aids such as GPS chart plotter, radar, HF and VHF radio, and depth
sounders. It has a cruising speed of 20 knots, which will enable
divers to reach their destinations in a very short time. All vessels
are well equipped with first aid kits and oxygen therapy equipment.
Non
divers can snorkel in the fjords or join the scuba divers on their
trips to outer reefs.
As members of the PNG Divers Association, Tufi supports the Hyperbaric
Chamber in Port Moresby. A contribution of 2 Kina per dive helps
to maintain the facility. In an emergency, PNG offers excellent
medivac facilities. It is mandatory that you have a suitable dive
evacuation insurance before you travel to Tufi.
Photo/Video Facilities
Currently no special photo facilities are available. Make sure
you bring enough film and spare batteries.
Activities
What
makes Tufi unique compared to any other PNG resort is its accessibility
to the village and the local community which has retained much of
it's original lifestyle & culture. The resort itself is a part
of the village and it's easy just to wander along the various tracks
to visit the neighbours and enjoy this unique landscape. Personal
safety is just not an issue here - the locals are the friendliest
and most approachable you are likely to meet anywhere in PNG.
There are some excellent escorted half and full day trips which
offer some great trekking, kayaking & cultural opportunities.
Not to be missed is a half-day visit to the beautiful Kofure Village.
There's also a clean & comfortable guest house in the village
that makes for a unique village stay experience which we can be
pre-arranged.
For vistors to PNG who want to experience a combination of great
diving, trekking, kayaking and cultural activities without spending
valuable time flying all over over the place, Tufi Dive Resort is
a great sole-destination option.
Access
This is a very remote
area of PNG and the village is fringed by rugged mountain ranges
on one side and the coastline on the other, so Tufi can only be
accessed by aircraft. Currently, Airlines of PNG operates 3 services
per week between Port Moresby & Tufi and stays of 7 or 10 nights
duration generally work best with these schedules.
Please Contact
us
for further details.
2010 - Packages
(7 Nights/10 Dives)
Dbl/Twin
per person
Single
Deluxe
Bungalow
(per
person)
AU$ 1940
AU$
2500
Standard
Bungalow
(per person)
AU$
1765
AU$
1975
2
Nights Village Stay
Included: Private Room, All Meals, English-Speaking
Guide
Additional cost: Cost for return Boat Transfer
AU$
180
AU$
180
AU$
180
AU$ 180
Package
Inclusions:
* Meet & greet at Tufi Airport
* 7 nights accommodation in a deluxe/standard bungalow as
specified
* All meals at resort
* 10 boat dives with tanks & weights
* children under 10 get meals/accommodation free of charge
if sharing with parents
* PNG VAT (10%)
Extra
costs : * Return flights Port Moresby-Tufi (with Airlines PNG),
please inquire for pricing
Additional Diving:
Per Dive:
Wharf
Dives
(dive guide,
tanks/weights)
AU$
30
Night
Wharf Dive (after 19:00)
(dive guide,
tanks/weights)
AU$ 50
Additional
Nights (includes all meals):
Dbl/Twin
per person/night
Single
per night
Deluxe
Bungalow
(per person/night;
incl all meals)
AU$
170
AU$
250
Standard
Bungalow
(per person/night;
incl all meals)
AU$
145
AU$
175
Cultural Tours
Price
Half Day Tour
(Fjord
cruising, treks & canoe trips)
AU$ 75
Full Day Tour
(includes
as above PLUS village visits, lunch & swimming)
AU$ 150
All prices
are per person and valid until 31 December 2010