Information
Landmark: North Coast Dive SitesCity: Madang
Country: Papua New Guinea
Continent: Australia
North Coast Dive Sites, Madang, Papua New Guinea, Australia
Overview
Along Papua New Guinea’s North Coast, you’ll find dive sites bursting with color and variety-towering coral walls, swaying sea fans, and schools of fish flashing like quicksilver.From the northern shores of New Ireland, through Madang and Lae, all the way to Milne Bay’s sunlit coastline, the region overflows with coral gardens, WWII shipwrecks, darting schools of fish, and a tapestry of underwater life.Clear, glassy water, coral gardens flashing with color, and schools of fish drifting past lure divers to these sites, making the North Coast a top spot for anyone who loves to scuba.Madang, in Madang Province, ranks among PNG’s top dive spots, drawing visitors to its steep underwater cliffs, vibrant coral gardens, and the haunting silhouettes of old shipwrecks.Some of the top dive spots here include Ferguson Passage, known for its glassy blue water, sheer underwater cliffs, and schools of bright reef fish drifting past in the current.The steady currents make it perfect for drift dives, where you might spot manta rays gliding past or schools of tuna flashing silver in the light, and at the nearby Astrolabe Reef near Madang, vibrant coral gardens stretch for meters under crystal-clear water.Divers can weave through sheer walls, winding canyons, and shadowy tunnels alive with flickers of bright reef fish, drifting sea turtles, and the rare, slow glide of a dugong.In Madang’s waters, WWII relics rest on the seabed, from the Japanese freighter *Tokai Maru* to a weathered B-24 bomber.These dive spots are perfect for exploring wrecks, where rusted hulls shelter flashes of lionfish, sleek moray eels, and hefty groupers.Around Lae, PNG’s second-largest city, you’ll find reefs tangled with coral, sunken ships, and an incredible mix of marine life.Salamaua sits about 25 kilometers from Lae, where divers flock to explore vivid coral walls and the well-known Cairns Reef.Divers can swim past sheer coral walls, slip through shadowy underwater canyons, and cross paths with napoleon wrasse, curious reef sharks, and clouds of flashing fish.Scorpion Reef, with its towering coral bommies and sudden drop-offs, teems with life at every turn.Divers here might spot sea turtles gliding past, watch sleek barracuda flash by in shimmering schools, or cross paths with a giant trevally.Tufi, in Oro Province on PNG’s northeastern coast, is famous for its fjord-like inlets and some of the clearest, untouched waters you’ll ever dive.In this region, bright coral gardens thrive beside the deep, glassy waters of the Tufi fjords.Tufi Fjord’s sheer cliffs rise straight from glassy, sheltered water, where divers drift past bright corals and schools of darting fish.Along with the usual reef dwellers, divers might spot sleek barracuda, massive clams, or the vivid stripes of a harlequin shrimp.The area’s also home to World War II wrecks-planes, boats, and cargo ships resting in the sand-making it a favorite spot for wreck diving.Down in the southeastern corner of PNG, Milne Bay draws visitors with crystal-clear water, rich reefs, and teeming marine life.This spot boasts some of the world’s finest muck diving, where you might spot a tiny seahorse swaying in the sand, and it’s surrounded by vibrant coral reefs teeming with life.Samurai Reef bursts with color, its coral walls alive with darting schools of batfish, hulking groupers, and the slow glide of sea turtles.Samurai Reef offers something for everyone, whether you’re just starting out or have years of diving under your belt.In Milne Bay, muck diving steals the spotlight-you’ll sift through rippled sand to spot tiny marvels like mantis shrimp, flamboyant cuttlefish, seahorses, and frogfish.Lese Island draws seasoned divers to its dramatic drop-offs, home to whitetip reef sharks, sleek barracudas, and curious octopuses.Up on the north coast of West New Britain, Kimbe Bay dazzles with glowing coral gardens, crystal-clear water, and a teeming mix of marine life.Many divers call it one of the finest spots in PNG, where bright coral fans sway gently in the clear blue water.Rabaul offers incredible diving, whether you’re gliding over vibrant coral reefs or exploring the ghostly outlines of sunken ships.The site boasts vibrant coral gardens, hidden underwater volcanoes, and a dazzling range of marine life-from graceful manta rays to sleek sharks.Up in the bay’s north, Tufi’s reefs hold some of the healthiest corals you’ll see, a vivid playground for underwater photographers.You might spot flashes of bright reef fish, a lazy sea turtle drifting by, and even a massive pelagic gliding past.New Ireland, in the Bismarck Archipelago, offers remarkable dives in waters few have explored.The area’s ecosystems range from bright coral reefs to haunting WWII shipwrecks, with deep-water dive spots scattered offshore.Just a short boat ride from the shore, Nusa Island beckons with dazzling reef dives and water so clear you can see the flick of a fish’s tail below.The site boasts crystal-clear water and thriving coral reefs teeming with colorful fish, graceful rays, and, in migration season, even whale sharks gliding past.Balek Wildlife Sanctuary, a quieter gem, invites divers to descend along steep drop-offs, weave through old wrecks, and watch the reef’s marine life up close.If you’re after something far from the usual tourist spots, the Sepik Coast in Sandaun Province delivers-here, the diving is remote, untouched, and so quiet you can hear only your own bubbles rise through the water.Along the coast, clear blue waters shelter pristine coral reefs and teem with darting fish and swaying sea fans.Wewak, with its vivid coral gardens, tangled mangrove roots, and haunting WWII shipwrecks, offers the perfect mix of vibrant reef dives and journeys into the past.The site boasts crystal-clear water where you can see straight to the sandy bottom, along with a rich mix of marine life.Far off the beaten path, Tama invites divers to glide through underwater canyons, descend sheer walls, and weave between coral reefs shimmering with schools of fish and the occasional passing shark.Along Papua New Guinea’s North Coast, you’ll find some of the most diverse marine habitats anywhere-bright reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and lagoons so clear they catch the sunlight like glass.You might spot manta rays gliding past, whale sharks cruising the deep, and sea turtles drifting like slow green shadows, along with barracudas, napoleon wrasse, lionfish, and countless snappers and groupers; up north, many dive sites hide WWII relics-rusted cargo ships, sunken planes, even the dark hulls of submarines.Divers flock to these sites to explore shipwrecks now draped in coral and home to darting fish, and the region’s crystal-clear waters shelter pristine reefs filled with both hard and soft corals.Some sites burst with vivid color and crystal-clear views, giving divers unforgettable moments beneath the surface.In Milne Bay, muck diving draws enthusiasts to sift through sandy bottoms and muddy flats, searching for tiny treasures like mantis shrimp, frogfish, and delicate seahorses.The North Coast of Papua New Guinea is truly a diver’s paradise.
