Dive Conditions:
Water Temp: 85-88˚
Visibility: 80-100’+
Wetsuit: 1mm-3mm
Best Time To Travel:
Year-round
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Every dive in Papua New Guinea is an exciting new experience, highlighted by encounters with dog tooth tuna, sharks, vast schools of pelagics such as barracuda, trevally and others. The waters of PNG are also home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals with over 350 recorded species of reef building corals and over 900 recorded species of fish.
Beginning in February of 2011, with her home port at the Driftwood Resort, Star Dancer offers explorations of the wonders of the Milne Bay area throughout the year.
When you arrive, consider yourself an explorer discovering the new world. There are plane shipwrecks, pristine coral reefs of interesting shapes and sizes, underwater volcanic vents, caves and various species of fish including manta rays and whales. Milne Bay and its offshore islands have some of the best dive spots in the world.
As you forage your way through reefs teaming with life, you will discover that there are more varieties of fish here than you could believe. The diving conditions will range from quiet mill pond dives to drift dives along spectacular walls, but the majority of diving is on sea mounts (or “bommies”) so there is something for everyone.
The reefs are a photographer’s paradise. Pristine and colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have resident schools of barracuda, tuna and jacks. You’ll see blue ribbon eels, seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipe fish, leaf scorpion fish and mantis shrimp. Pelagics will also be part of the scenery. Some of the reefs are current washed; without current the spectacular marine life would not be there, however, the wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at a site if currents are unmanageable at the time
Package Inclusions: Eight, nine or ten nights on board the Star Dancer, all meals and beverages (including national brands of alcohol), airport transfers in Alotau 6 ½, 7 ½ or 8 ½ days of diving, four or five dives per day and other standard Dancer Fleet services and amenities.
Plus Port Charges $75 and Environmental & Safety Fee $5.00 per night
** Note 2 - This rate has incorporated the Fuel Surcharge. However, a Fuel Surcharge may be added if fuel prices fluctuate beyond the programmed range for fuel included in this price
NITROX FILLS (BASED ON AVAILABILITY) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. NITROX FILLS, INSTRUCTION AND ALL OTHER SERVICES AND PURCHASES MADE ABOARD THE VESSEL ARE SUBJECT TO LOCAL TAXES. ALL PACKAGE PRICES ARE IN US$ PER PERSON ON A SHARE BASIS AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
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MV FEBRINA
FeBrina cruises from her home port, Walindi Plantation Resort, visiting areas further afield such as Witu Islands, Fathers Reefs, South Coast New Britain and Rabaul. FeBrina's signature itinerary is Kimbe Bay, Witu Islands and Fathers Reefs which is offered in April, May and June, September, October and November. During July and August, FeBrina operates midyear itineraries, diving Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reefs and Lolobau Island. Selected midyear itineraries travel from Walindi to Rabaul and return. January, February and March see FeBrina exploring the Southern Coast of New Britain, based out of Rabaul. On selected itineraries during the year, the boat also visits the New Hanover area up towards Kavieng.
The coral reefs around Walindi are extraordinarily rich. A recent coral count of Kimbe Bay revealed an incredible 413 species of hard coral. This is over half the total world species in one Bay, a truly remarkable statistic which makes Kimbe Bay the "Coral Capital of the World". Over 900 species of fish have been recorded and this number will continue to grow as more research is done.
Witu Islands, to the north west of Kimbe Bay, are a remote group of islands with a wide variety of dive types to visit. The islands and reef are of volcanic origin and rise from very deep water. Garove Harbour is actually a submerged volcanic crater. Nutrient rich currents frequently waft across most reefs and as a result there is a profusion of life. Schools of pelagic fishes abound on the world renowned Lama Shoals, a sea mount rising to within 15 feet of the surface from the surrounding deep waters.
Fathers Reefs, to the north east of Kimbe Bay along the northern coast line of New Britain, are a series of off shore reefs, which are the sunken remains of a huge extinct volcanic caldera. The reefs have interesting topography with swim throughs and arches adorned with soft corals and other sea life. Being offshore, these reefs attract many pelagic species including shark, tuna, barracuda, turtles and rays, which all come in to feed off the prolific reef fish and other invertebrate species that have settled here.
Rabaul and the South Coast of New Britain are a critter lover's heaven. White sand beaches and uninhabited tropical islands stretch along the Southern coastline of the island of New Britain, with rainforest coming right down to the water’s edge. There are some drift dives in the channels created between the islands, however the speciality of this region is the amazing variety of rarely seen and unusual critters.
Charters Include:
Rates are inclusive of accommodation on board as reserved, maximum 12 guests, all meals, complimentary wine with dinner, 4-5 dives per dive day, except on final dive day which is 2-3 dives only, filled tanks, weight belt and weights, light laundry service daily, airport or hotel transfers on day of departure and disembarkation, final night dinner at Walindi resort if charter finishes at Walindi.
Charters do not include:
Environmental & Safety Fees are an additional charge to trip cost, payable in advance with final balance. Current Environmental & Safety Fees are US$5 per person/per night.
Nitrox is an additional charge to trip cost if required.
Also not included are airfares, bar beverages (other than complimentary wine with dinner), items of a personal nature and gratuities.
All extra charges, except for Environmental & Safety Fees, can be paid on board with cash (Kina, US$, AU$ or Euro) or credit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express), however GST of additional 10% will apply to any charges paid on board.
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