Country

Diving in Papua New Guinea

6 dive destinations in Papua New Guinea, up to 860 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 27–32 °C. 5 of 6 are in season in Apr–Nov. 28 named dive sites have their own pages.

New Ireland & Kavieng · photo Micha Baum

Destinations: 6
Dive sites: 28
Water: 27–32°C
Most in season: Apr–Nov

RegionCoral Triangle

Where are the dive destinations in Papua New Guinea?

1New Ireland & KaviengMay–Oct
2Rabaul & Simpson HarbourMay–Oct
3Madang & the North CoastNov–Apr
4Kimbe BayMay–Oct
5TufiApr–Jun
6Milne BayMay–Sep

Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Papua New Guinea
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	New Ireland & KaviengSharks and tuna on the tide at Albatross Passage, and wartime floatplane wrecks	May–Oct	29–32°C	—	2–31 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore, Day boat	6
2	Rabaul & Simpson HarbourJapanese wartime wrecks and jetty critters inside a volcanic caldera	May–Oct	29–30°C	—	5–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	6
3	Madang & the North CoastWrecks, a shark seamount and an endemic walking shark from one lagoon town	Nov–Apr	28–30°C	12–30 m	4–30 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	7
4	Kimbe BayA single bay holds roughly half the world's recorded coral species.	May–Oct	27–30°C	20–35 m	5–30 m	Beginnersites from beginner to advanced	Day boat, Liveaboard	4
5	TufiMuck diving in drowned volcanic valleys with rainforest on the walls	Apr–Jun	27–30°C	10–35 m	5–40 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore, Day boat	4
6	Milne BaySheltered volcanic-sand bays where modern muck diving first took hold.	May–Sep	27–30°C	10–25 m	5–25 m	Intermediate	Liveaboard	1

When is the best time to dive Papua New Guinea?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Apr–Nov: 5 of 6. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Papua New Guinea
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1New Ireland & Kavieng	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair
2Rabaul & Simpson Harbour	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair
3Madang & the North Coast	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good
4Kimbe Bay	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good
5Tufi	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Good
6Milne Bay	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Fair
Good or prime	2	2	3	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	3

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.