The Reefs and Diving

Lying at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the epicentre of marine biodiversity, Papua New Guinea boasts some of the most pristine and spectacular coral reefs on earth, a paradise for divers seeking untouched underwater wilderness. Kimbe Bay off New Britain shelters a stunning concentration of coral and fish species, while Milne Bay in the far east is renowned for its dramatic walls, Second World War wrecks and world-class muck diving, hunting tiny, bizarre critters against black sand. With warm, clear water and reefs far from the crowds, it is a bucket-list destination for serious divers.

What you actually see

• Kimbe Bay - the extraordinary coral and fish biodiversity.
• Milne Bay - the walls, wrecks and muck diving.
• The wartime wrecks - the sunken Second World War relics.
• The pristine reefs - the untouched coral far from crowds.

When to go

May to November tends to offer the best all-round diving conditions and visibility, though PNG can be dived year-round, with different regions peaking at different times; Milne Bay is often best later in the year. Trips are based at dive resorts or on liveaboard boats reaching the remote sites.

Honest expectations

PNG diving is remote and comes at a premium, reached by internal flights to dive resorts or liveaboards, so it is a serious, costly trip for dedicated divers rather than casual snorkellers, and the country's wider travel challenges apply. But the reward, some of the healthiest, most biodiverse and least-crowded reefs on the planet, along with dramatic wrecks and muck diving, makes it a genuine world-class underwater destination.

Nearby

The town of Alotau and the islands of Milne Bay and New Britain are the bases.