Diving Bougainville PNG - getting interested people together

[Pacifico]

For some time now, I have been pondering the idea of how it might be possible to dive the reefs off the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The biggest obstacle is that there are no dive centers that currently operate on the island. I have been in touch with Zhon Bosco Miriona (a local Bougainvillean) who is doing a lot of work to promote the fledgling tourism sector on the island and he mentioned that a number of people have approached him inquiring about SCUBA diving there.

My goal here is to find those people that are interested and get us to start thinking collectively about how it might be possible to pull off an exploratory trip there.

If anyone is interested on scubaboard please weigh in on the this thread.

Thanks and happy holidays,

José

 

[diversteve]

Check with MV Febrina - maybe they'd do it if you chartered the whole boat. In Spring they dive the south coast of New Britain which google tells me is something over 60mi. away.

I'm not interested btw.

 

[Wingy]

Just a thought..ive always wanted to go to Bouganville too - I seem to recall some time ago Australians were expelled from Bouganville. PNG bans Australians from travelling to Bougainville

Does your contact in Bouganville have any more up to date info on this situation?

 

[WetPup]

The ban was temporary. I've been for work. It's still problematic there safety wise, particularly for Australians (I was accompanied by private security on my visit). I am potentially interested, but I would want specific details on what security measures were going to be provided for the trip.

 

[diverguytasmania]

i'd be interested in going