Scuba diving in

Alotau, Milne Bay and Tufi

At the border of the Coral Sea and Solomon Sea, Milne Bay and Tufi both benefit from large tidal movements that draw deep, plankton-rich ocean waters into coastal lagoons – creating the perfect recipe for an explosion of life. And, due to the impressive size and seclusion of this region, you may well have the dive sites all to yourself.

South Milne Bay

Milne Bay’s southern sites centre around the southern headland and neighbouring islands that extend out into the Solomon Sea. The China Strait, which separates Sariba Island from the mainland, lies in the path of ripping currents that provide short, exhilarating drift dives at sites such as Washing Machine. Nearby, the island of Samarai is known for macro marine life, with its dilapidated jetty providing shelter for all kinds of critters. What’s more, the island of Gona Bara Bara, in the south of the China Strait, offers some of Papua New Guinea’s most reliable manta ray interactions at a site known as Giants@Home.

North Milne Bay

Milne Bay’s northern sites are largely located on the side of the peninsula facing the Solomon Sea. This shoreline is home to around a dozen of the region’s most renowned sites, including Dinah’s Beach – the birthplace of muck diving. The black sands of this coastal site are strewn with rotting tree trunks, broken coral fragments, and empty shells, creating a haven for critters of all kinds, including octopuses, shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, and more.

But it’s not just macro marine life on offer here, with wide-angle wonderlands such as Deacon’s Reef and Wahoo Point lying just a stone’s throw away. These stunning reefs are only metres from the rainforest in places and are swept by the nutrient-rich waters that pass along the coast. The currents have given birth to beautiful gardens of hard corals, sponges and sea fans, while manta rays, whale sharks, and hammerheads can sometimes pass by in the blue. Several other sites, including Cob’s Cliff, lie near East Cape at the tip of the peninsula, while a scattering of seamounts can be found around Nuakata Island. 

Some of Milne Bay’s most northerly sites are located around the D’entrecasteaux Islands of Normanby and Fergusson – the most famous of which is Observation Point. Situated off the northwest tip of Normanby Island, this site comprises a mixture of mangrove, seagrass, and rubble, promising plenty of unusual marine life. Mandarinfish, gobies, juvenile batfish, and Ambon ‘Bugs Bunny’ scorpionfish can all be found, along with seahorses, mimic octopus, Spanish dancers, Coleman’s shrimp, and stargazers.

Tufi

Tufi is a truly unique diving destination, situated amongst the volcano-forged fjords of Cape Nelson. Like Milne Bay’s northern sites, Tufi enjoy tremendous marine biodiversity sustained by the nutrient-rich currents running up and down the coastline. There are at least 15 local sites, ranging from muck diving in the fjords to offshore reefs that act as magnets for sizable marine life. 

The most extensively explored fjords of Cape Nelson are Tufi fjord and Maclaren Harbour - the rest are rarely visited. Within Tufi Fjord, the town’s wharf conveniently offers some of the best local scuba diving. Amongst the debris, divers can find gobies, mandarinfish, crocodile fish and various species of pipefish, along with nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, bobtail squid, and more. 

From Tufi, a boat ride of 30 to 50-minutes brings divers to a string of offshore reefs which rise up from the depths – many of which are yet to be fully surveyed. These seamounts and reef plateaus are almost entirely submerged, meaning there is little in the way of shelter and conditions must be favourable in order to visit. Located on the outer rim of this system of shoals, the reefs of Cyclone and Mulloway feature phenomenal wall diving accompanied by schools of barracuda, trevally, and tuna, as well as eagle rays, manta rays, grey reef sharks, and the possibility of hammerheads. Other noteworthy sites in the area include Minor’s, Ellie’s, Veale’s, Bev’s, and Clancey’s reefs.

Wreck diving in Milne Bay and Tufi

Southwest of Tufi, in Collingwood Bay, divers can also find the remains of a B25 Mitchel Bomber, complete with two heavy calibre machine guns. Known as the Pistoff Wreck, this plane is one of the more accessible wrecks in the region, lying at a depth of just 17-meres, though a nearby river limits visibility. Suitably certified divers can also explore the remains of two PT Boats and a small Australian freighter near Tufi Wharf. Having sunk in 1943, the vessels now lie at a depth of almost 50-metres, along with a Land Rover and several 50-calibre anti-aircraft machine guns.

The Blackjack Wreck lies off the coast of Cape Vogel, roughly halfway between Tufi and Milne Bay, at a depth of around 40-metres. This B17 Bomber was ditched above the reef so skillfully, it appears in almost perfect working order. In the cockpit, divers will find the seats still in place and various switch gears, gauges, cables and controls intact, while the four engines and rear gun turret can still be seen underneath. In the far south of the region, off the shores of Basilaki Island, divers can also find the wreck of a P38 Lightning bomber sitting at a depth of 27-metres.