Luca Brasi
Contributor
Has anyone been recently? I’m thinking of a Liveaboard this winter, but I see Papua is in the USA do not travel. Also I saw an article online about piracy and some private boats attacked
Papua New Guinea safety
- Thread starter Luca Brasi
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Trilobite
Contributor
First – be careful about terminology. "Papua" is often used to refer to the Indonesian part of New Guinea, as distinguished from Papua New Guinea, which is its own country.
Second, I just checked the website, and Papua New Guinea is not on the do not travel list, but one level lower, the "reconsider travel" list. Indonesian New Guinea is another level lower ("exercise increased caution").
In any event, I went to Papua New Guinea and Indonesian New Guinea in 2023. PNG can be a dangerous place and has unreliable air transportation which can you leave you stranded where you don't want to be. I recall reading about armed robbers hitting the same dive resort twice earlier this decade. Though I'm not aware of anything else specifically targeting divers. Personally I'd go to Indonesian New Guinea unless you've got something specific you want to see in PNG.
I'm not too familiar with the recent piracy issues. They look worrying, but the reports I see don't suggest pirates are targeting large boats and seem restricted to the northeast coast.
Second, I just checked the website, and Papua New Guinea is not on the do not travel list, but one level lower, the "reconsider travel" list. Indonesian New Guinea is another level lower ("exercise increased caution").
In any event, I went to Papua New Guinea and Indonesian New Guinea in 2023. PNG can be a dangerous place and has unreliable air transportation which can you leave you stranded where you don't want to be. I recall reading about armed robbers hitting the same dive resort twice earlier this decade. Though I'm not aware of anything else specifically targeting divers. Personally I'd go to Indonesian New Guinea unless you've got something specific you want to see in PNG.
I'm not too familiar with the recent piracy issues. They look worrying, but the reports I see don't suggest pirates are targeting large boats and seem restricted to the northeast coast.
TostitoBandito
Contributor
One of the most dangerous places in the world you can go as a woman, or LGBTQ. Oh and they burn witches.
Once you're out on a liveaboard you're probably ok, but you still most likely need to transit through Port Moresby and possibly stay overnight there. And then there's the ethical considerations of giving that place your tourism money. Indonesia isn't without its issues, but is certainly much lower risk in the areas divers typically frequent or travel through.
Once you're out on a liveaboard you're probably ok, but you still most likely need to transit through Port Moresby and possibly stay overnight there. And then there's the ethical considerations of giving that place your tourism money. Indonesia isn't without its issues, but is certainly much lower risk in the areas divers typically frequent or travel through.
Would you elaborate? I saw your comparison of PNG to Myanmar, and don’t really understand. PNG is very complicated, with horrific poverty and profound social issues, but is a democracy, albeit an unstable one. I feel like the dive industry there is a relative bright spot, creating jobs and bringing in some money.
clownfishsydney
Contributor
Apart from Port Moresby (which needs a lot of care), much safer than the USA I would hazard a guess. No second amendment giving everyone a gun and a more mentally stable head of country. Six trips over the years to PNG (including two weeks in Port Moresby), never felt unsafe in towns or the countryside.
OP
Luca Brasi
Contributor
Thanks clownfish
Similar threads
