Papua New Guinea has been voted by Readers' Choice Awards, 2002 as the World's No. 1 Diving Destination.

21 February '02

Papua New Guinea has taken first place in the 'Top Dive Destination in the World' voting for 2002, according to the Reader's Choice Awards of Rosedale's Scuba Diving magazine.

Both the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the Divers' Association are over the moon with the result in the US-published magazine, which is one of the world's largest in its field with over 120,000 subscribers in the US alone.

The awards are based on votes cast by readers who have world-wide diving experience.

Not only did PNG pick up the 'Top Destination' award, it also scored top spot for:

• 'Best Fish Life',
• 'Healthiest Marine Environment',
• 'Best Macro Life', and
• 'Best Underwater Photography'.

The Dive Report

Papua New Guinea is located north of Australia in the confluence of major ocean currents from Japan, the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef. The result is an astounding mix of 900 species of fish and 400 species of coral in combinations unlike any other place on the planet.

According to our Reader Ratings survey, 90 percent of readers dive PNG by live-aboard, a good choice in a destination with 600 islands spread across the Bismarck, Solomon and Coral seas. Not only do live-aboards let you cover more territory, they also let you maximize dive time relative to travel time.

Another live-aboard benefit: flexibility. By moving ports and itineraries, they are able to offer custom itineraries, take advantage of seasonal dive conditions or just go exploring.

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Overview Of Dive Locations

On the geographical side, Papua New Guinea covers an area of 461,000 square kilometres being double the size of the UK and one of the biggest South Pacific nations. Just south of the equator and only 160 km north of Australia is the main island of "New Guinea" which covers 85% of the nations territory.

The rest is made up of 600 tropical islands, including the bigger islands like New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville. The western part of the main island, Irian Jaya is part of Indonesia.

A mighty ridge of high mountains covers the mainland from west to east with peaks such as Mt Willhelm reaching up to 4500 metres.

Countless creeks and rivers cut through the mountain valleys. The two biggest streams are the Sepik-River going north and the Fly-River going south. Both are mighty tropical streams and comparable to the Amazon in South America.

The many reef systems along the coastlines and outlying atolls are inviting again and again for another dive trip in PNG.

• Central Province-Coral Sea
• Milne Bay-Tufi
• Madang-Manus
• Wewak-Hermit
• Kimbe New Britain
• Rabaul
• Kavieng-New Ireland

Papua New Guinea Diving Destinations:

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Papua New Guinea Divers Association Inc.,
P.O. Box 1646,
PORT MORESBY. NCD 121
Papua New Guinea

Telephone: +675 320 0211
Fax: +675 320 0223

Email: info@pngdive.com
Website: www.pngdive.com

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The Dive Centre,
P.O. Box 1488,
PORT MORESBY. NCD 121

Telephone: +675 320 1200
Fax: +675 320 1257

Email: divecentrepng@datec.com.pg
carisma@dg.com.pg

Experience the Beauty & Diversity of Papua New Guinea Diving without the hassle and experience of travelling to remote locations!

The Dive Centre is conveniently located overlooking the beautiful Ela Beach just minutes from the international airport.

You can choose from a range of accommodation options to suit your budget.

Dive Travellers' Delight:

The Dive Centre offers a full range of services to the dive traveller. The comprehensively-stocked shop and service centre can supply all your diving equipment needs.

It includes both air and nitrox fills. The Dive Centre is a PADI facility and offers PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster's levels.

The Dive Centre also arranges a variety of activities for the non-diver-see the famous Kokoda trail or a town and souvenir shopping tour....

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Loloata Island Resort ,
P.O. Box 5290,
BOROKO. NCD 111
Papua New Guinea

Telephone: +675 325 8590
Fax: +675 325 8933

Email: loloata@daltron.com.pg
Wedsite: www.loloata.com

[color=sea green]Loloata Island[/color] is situated approximately half an hours drive from Port Moresby where the drive takes you to a pier to transfer onto the resort ferry for another 15 minute trip by boat.

[color=sea green]Loloata Resort[/color] is hidden among broad-leafed trees with self-contained units peeking out over the silken ocean. Local bird species strut the grounds and some endemic, marsupials are kept in a mini zoo but are free to move in and out of their sheltering cages.

Meals are served in a community dining area. A huge lounge area is available for for relaxing or checking ID books for that weird fish you found, or you may prefer your timberfloored room with wavelets lapping the shore under your verandah.

However, if you're like me, you'll be out all day diving some of the richest reefs you'll be able to find anywhere!

Late December to early March is wet season with relatively calm sea, but visibility declines. Late April to late May brings the doldrums; seas are usually clam and improving visibility. Early June to early October is the dry season; southeast trade winds can mean choppy seas but visability is good. Late October to early December bring the doldrums again, but usually gives the best diving, calm seas and good visibility.

Diving at Loloata is year-round-even on rougher days some sites are accessible and protected.

Water Temperatures: From 27 deg C (80deg F) in August and September to 30 deg C (86 Deg F) in March and April. Divers need a Lycra suit to protect against sunburn, or up to 3 mm wetsuit for thermal protection.

Wrecks and reefs with rareand unique fish and animals; a macro paradise! Dive from their new purpose-built 9 metre (29.5ft) mono-hull. Loloata is perfect for a short stopover or a dedicated dive vacation.

Special diets/vegetarians are catered for with advance notice, and children's meals can be served earlier if desired:

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When you visit Papua New Guinea, take a few days out to acclimatise to the heat, sort out your gear and explore the amazingly rich marine life around Loloata.

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MV Golden Dawn ,
The Manager,
Dolphin Enterprises,
P.O. Box 1335,
PORT MORESBY. NCD
Papua New Guinea

Telephone: +675 325 0302
Fax: +675 325 6500

Email: dive@goldendawn.com
Website: www.mvgoldendawn.com

Golden Dawn is an 80' vessel which operates in many different regions of the country, from the most northern islands of Wuvulu, Ninigo and Hermits, to the most southern of atolls, Eastern Fields.

Her sophisticated stabilizer system and size allow her the most comfort for a maximum group of ten divers and, being owner operated, ensures 100% commitment to service. Rebreathers and nitrox now available.

2002 and 2003 Itineraries Schedule
http://www.mvgoldendawn.com/schedule.htm

Itinerary Guide
http://www.mvgoldendawn.com/itineraryguide.htm

Because of the diversity of dive locations, the GOLDEN DAWNhas two rigid hull inflatables. One 18ft / 6mtr zodiac pro that is powered by a 70 HP outboard, one 14ft / 4.5mtr inflatable powered by a 15hp outboard.

This allows us to anchor GOLDEN DAWN in a suitable anchorage and gives us the ability to move ten divers around with great ease. This flexibility allows one tender to return divers to the comfort of the GOLDEN DAWN, while the other stays on station on the dive site awaiting the divers who generally have longer dives.

Often one of the smaller tenders is dedicated to carrying just cameras to avoid unwanted knocks from clumsy divers. When the dive site and conditions allow, the diving is done from the GOLDEN DAWN with the divers either returning to the GOLDEN DAWN or being picked up by one of the dive tenders. Night dives are also offered.

While there is now a DAN recognised recompression chamber in PNG, you should take particular care with deep or long dives. GOLDEN DAWN does carry large quantities of medical oxygen on board but we prefer to use it for making nitrox and not for treatment for the bends.

All divers are encouraged to use correct multilevel skills: start with the deepest part of your dive and finish with a Safety stop after every dive. Craig will give full dive briefings on any dive requiring one and he or the other trained dive staff will be happy to assist with advice or suggestions concerning a dive or even guide you on the dive.

However divers will be free to plan and conduct their own dives. Please remember to bring your certification card with you. All divers must be certified in order to dive. You may be requested to present the said card before being allowed to dive.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: All passengers must be formally certified. There are two good reasons for this: first, these trips offer such excellent diving that the time involved in learning basics is wasted. The first several hours of Scuba Diving really demand all of your attention to become familiar with the skills and the equipment being used. Second; many of the dive sites and conditions we experience are of an advanced nature.

The M.V Golden Dawn is a recognised IANTD training facility (the first in Papua New Guinea). We offer a variety of courses in the use of NITROX and REBREATHERS to divers who are already certified (open water diver minimum), and would like to experience the advantages of diving on NITROX and /or the silence of REBREATHERS. These courses generally don't impede on one's diving or free time.

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Inside the Cabin:

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Port Moresby/Bootless Bay

The Gulf of Papua off the island of New Guinea is an offshoot of the Coral Sea. From the capital city of Port Moresby, and nearby Bootless Bay, divers can reach a barrier reef, where gray reef sharks and even hammerheads are spotted, and there are a number of exciting wreck dives, though runoff can occasionally cut visibility to about 50 feet.

When conditions are clear, Suzie's Bommie is one of PNG's top dives.

The coral dome tops out at 50 feet and is covered with massive schools of sweetlips, fusiliers, batfish and snapper. Wreck divers will enjoy the trawlers New Marine and Kukipi, and the 200-foot transport ship Pacific Gas—all sunk as artificial reefs. Live-aboard cruises from Port Moresby also hit the remote barrier reef system known as the Eastern Fields, where soft corals, sharks and reef fish are all abundant.

Niugini Diving
PO Box 320
Lae. Morobe Province
Papua New Guinea

Fax:+675 472-4086

Satellite Phone: +872 761 339 154

Satellite Fax: +872 761 339 155

Email: niuginidive@global.net.pg
Email: info@niuginidiving.com.pg
Website: www.niuginidiving.com

Owner/Operator: Rod Pearce

Rod Pearce, the owner and skipper of Barbarian II, has been diving Papua New Guinea's waters for over 30 years and is accredited with discovering PNG's two premier wrecks - Blackjack and S'Jacob, plus a host of other smaller ships and aircraft lying throughout the region's waters.

Barbarian II is a custom-built comfortable vessel with twin-share air-conditioned cabins. As well as specializing in wreck diving, they also offer Birdwatching Adventures in Paradise and Stress Relief tours.

Travel up river to view the birdlife, explore the islands and villages either diving or fishing, or anchor in a secluded bay and do absolutely nothing. Available for private charters.

Rod's interest in the Second World War offensive and its wrecks make him one of the most knowledgeable skippers in PNG. As well as his extensive knowledge, Rod's love of exploring the underwater world ensures that you will be diving new sites as well as established ones.

Rod Pearce's love of diving is second only to his passion for WWII aircraft wrecks, but underwater only.

Barbarian II

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