Place to go in PNG for big stuff and time to visit

[Bunty]

Hi there!

I'm planning a trip to PNG. I know that PNG is known as Muck Capital, but would really love to see some big stuff like sharks...etc. I heard that Kavieng is best for the bigger animals and pelagics. Also I am thinking of going in July. Is that the best time to visit PNG, given that it is in the southern hemi? Thanks very much!!!

 

[baitballer]

Kaveing is the place to go and Lissenung island is the place in Kaveing. To see the pelagics you need to be comfortable in strong currents though since it is these currents that bring them in. You will see lots of sharks, grey reefs, silvertips, blacktips, whitetips, nurse, occasional great hammerhead and lots of rays such as mobulas and eagle rays not to mention the others such as jacks, barracudas, GT's etc etc. Dietmar who runs Lissenung knows the waters around there better than anyone and his staff are also fantastic. Remember to look for the little stuff as well, hard to concentrate when you have schools of jacks, barracudas and sharks all around but if you look on the walls you will find them covered in life with lots of great stuff like pygmy seahorses etc. Lots of WW2 wrecks as well if your into them. As far as I'm concerened it is the best diving anywhere!

 

[Bunty]

I did some research on different sites and some people claim that the Kavieng pelagics scene is not up to what has been said due to some fishing...etc. Also they said that Kimbe Bay is a better choice, even for the bigger stuff. Is that true?

 

[silent running]

I did some research on different sites and some people claim that the Kavieng pelagics scene is not up to what has been said due to some fishing...etc. Also they said that Kimbe Bay is a better choice, even for the bigger stuff. Is that true?

Hello Bunty, yes, July is a good time for up North. I was in Kavieng 2 years ago and saw lots of sharks and some very large turtles. I'd bet they are still there, you just have to know where to go. I was on a liveaboard-Golden Dawn-which is the best way to get in the most diving. But if you do land based, I would suggest you contact Scuba Ventures. I met the owners, Dorian and Cara when I was there. They had some nice fast boats and seemed to do a fair amount of exploration, which is probably the best way to find the big stuff.
Oh, and if you are really into the big stuff, I would suggest you look into closed circuit rebreathers. I switched to CCR 4 years ago and I'll never go back. You'd be amazed how much more you see when you're not making noisey bubbles. The Golden Dawn has some CCRs for hire and the Capt. has trained lots of divers on them. PNG is a great place to dive CCR. I have seen lots of big stuff all over PNG diving CCR. I even had encounters with big stuff-Silvertips, Hammers, Mantas-in Milne bay
As for Kimbe, yes there is some big stuff there as well. I saw some Pilot Whales and Grey Reef sharks. Then better place for shark activity in that area is in the Witus, which is only accessible by Liveaboard. But you will almost certainly see more kinds of Sharks in Kavieng. -Andy

 

[Bunty]

Hi! - After chatting w/ you guys, I've booked a spot on Mike Ball's Paradise Sport 7-days trip to Kavieng in July!! Hope it will be a good trip. Will give a trip report when I get back!! Thanks again!!!

 

[Allison Finch]

Hmmmm.... I've dived both New Ireland and New Britain Islands and think that the pelagics are as good (or better) in New Britain. You won't see more big greys and white tips than at Killibob's knob. Huge schools of 'cudas and jacks everywhere.

In New Ireland, my favorite dives were Albatross Channel and Planet Ocean. The current can be much more tidal in the channels than the open areas of New Britain.