Tawali, Milne Bay Papua New Guinea

[dudas]

Shameless plug, so I apologize in advance....

Looking for one spirited diver to join our Group from Dudas Diving Duds when we travel to Tawali & The Spirit of Niugini! September 20th, 2008 through October 6, 2008. We are staying three nights at Tawali & Eight nights aboard the Spirit of Niugini. Price of the trip, excluding air fare $3470 US. all meals and PNG transfers.

anyone interested should check out the Tawali web site or the dudas diving duds web site...

 

[Flor11]

I am going to Tawali myself on October 17, 2008. I would like to hear how it went when you get back.

 

[penniediver]

We are looking to book the Spirit of Niugini, but haven't heard much about it. Could you send me some feed back from your trip. I am trying to decide between Spirit of Niugini or Peter Hughes.

 

[Flor11]

Whe we went, we stayed at the resort. We did see the Spirit of Niugini and talk to the people (a group from Seattle) who were on the boat. They flew back from Alatou to Port Moresby with us. They said the diving was great, but we did not talk much about the boat itself. I thought the resort was really good. If the boat is the same you can't go wrong. The diving in the area was amazing.

 

[tarangau]

We are looking to book the Spirit of Niugini, but haven't heard much about it. Could you send me some feed back from your trip. I am trying to decide between Spirit of Niugini or Peter Hughes.

Peter Hughes (Star Dancer) has been in PNG far longer than Spirit of Niugini and therefore more experience, these guys know what they are doing.

I also personally believe that the diving is far superior out of the North Coast of New Britain (Kimbe Bay) than in Milne Bay.

The best itinerary in PNG is Walindi - Fathers - Witus. The healthiest coral reefs, huge schools of fish and sharks and awesome macro and muck diving (Witus).

 

[silent running]

Peter Hughes (Star Dancer) has been in PNG far longer than Spirit of Niugini and therefore more experience, these guys know what they are doing.

Hello tarangau, to take your reasoning 1 step further, Febrina, Golden Dawn, Telita and Chertan have all been in PNG much longer than a franchise boat like Star Dancer and certainly know what they are doing by decades more experience.

I also personally believe that the diving is far superior out of the North Coast of New Britain (Kimbe Bay) than in Milne Bay.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but where else have you dived in PNG? I have dived in both places twice and found Milne Bay superior in terms of diversity and bigger fish. MB is known for macro life and if you have been further East in MB, you will run into much bigger animals. I have seen a 6M oceanic manta, hammerheads, silvertips, grey reefs and a sand tiger shark all on the same dive. Can you say the same about any site in Kimbe? Milne Bay is a much bigger province which extends all the way to the Solomons.

The best itinerary in PNG is Walindi - Fathers - Witus. The healthiest coral reefs, huge schools of fish and sharks and awesome macro and muck diving (Witus).

The Witus/Fathers are top notch. But given the size of PNG and the low pop density, deep water and many converging ocean currents, all of PNG has the potential to be the best of the best. I have been all over the country and had nothing less than an exceptional experience on all my dive trips... -Andy

 

[tarangau]

Hello tarangau, to take your reasoning 1 step further, Febrina, Golden Dawn, Telita and Chertan have all been in PNG much longer than a franchise boat like Star Dancer and certainly know what they are doing by decades more experience.

Tarangau:
You are right. These boats have far more experience than Star Dancer or Spirit of Niugini but my observation was between Star Dancer and Spirit of Niugini as this is what the original question was asking.



Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but where else have you dived in PNG? I have dived in both places twice and found Milne Bay superior in terms of diversity and bigger fish. MB is known for macro life and if you have been further East in MB, you will run into much bigger animals. I have seen a 6M oceanic manta, hammerheads, silvertips, grey reefs and a sand tiger shark all on the same dive. Can you say the same about any site in Kimbe? Milne Bay is a much bigger province which extends all the way to the Solomons.

Tarangau: Yes I can many of these things have been seen in Kimbe Bay (Mantas not regularly), including Orcas which I was lucky to experience! I have dived MB and found the reefs of Kimbe Bay to be in better condition BUT I know MB is a HUGE area and I have only been there once.


The Witus/Fathers are top notch. But given the size of PNG and the low pop density, deep water and many converging ocean currents, all of PNG has the potential to be the best of the best. I have been all over the country and had nothing less than an exceptional experience on all my dive trips... -Andy

Tarangau: But you have made a good point I think where ever you go in PNG you will have an incredible experience, because the population is low many reefs are extremely healthy, and lets hope it stays that way! - Happy diving!

 

[DavidWarshaw]

I spent a week on the Spirit in mid-January... and had a great time. The boat is very comfortable and stable. We had a forward cabin, one of two with a double bed (my wife is my dive buddy!) and it was fine. All have private baths. Food is repetitive, but good. There just isn't much chance to get provisions in that part of the world. In fact, on the 90-minute van trip from Alatau airport to where you get on the transfer boat to go to Tawali resort (yes, it is tough to get there), we didn't even see anyone on a bicycle, let alone motor bikes or other cars. Diving was wonderful. Sites are combination of remote, off-island bimas (pinnacles), near-shore muck and reefs. Schooling fish are wonderful, with seemingly hundreds of species flying in/out/up/down. Currents for the most part were mile, and water temp was mid-eighties (F). Warm water brought an algae bloom that cut visibility, but it was still spectacular. Some larger stuff... rays, sharks (including a hammerhead), but mostly just lots and lots and lots of fish life.

 

[DavidWarshaw]

Photos of the trip: Papua New Guinea - 2009 - a set on Flickr

 

[Allison Finch]

The Spirit has had difficulties that has led to trips being cancelled. People have shown up for their liveaboard, only to be kept at Tawali and day diving. I would be pissed!!

The 'Dancer had a huge facelift this last Feb and should look really nice. Having spent much time on her and (mostly) the FeBrina, you can't lose. The Fathers and Witus are my favorite places. I just returned from a month on the south shore and, while I loved the diving, you won't see as many big things there.