Liveaboard MV FeBrina • Kimbe Bay & the Bismarck Sea
Discover the pristine diving waters of Papua New Guinea aboard the intimate MV FeBrina. Choose from unique itineraries, ranging from the famous Kimbe Bay to exclusive exploratory expeditions.
Travel period
Features
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Liveaboard Trip in Unexplored Papua New Guinea
Some diving trips focus on well-known highlights, while others are all about discovering the unknown. The New Siassi Islands Exploratory Route aboard the MV FeBrina undoubtedly falls into the latter category. This unique expedition takes you to the remote western part of New Britain and the virtually undiscovered waters around the New Siassi Islands, an area where very few divers have ever been.
From the Walindi Plantation Resort, you’ll sail to volcanic islands, remote reefs, and dive sites that have barely been explored. That’s exactly what makes this trip so special: no one knows exactly what lies beneath the surface. Based on the geography and the limited previous explorations, expectations are high. Think colorful hard and soft corals, impressive walls, pinnacles, and drift dives teeming with life. Large schools of barracuda and horse mackerel, reef sharks, sea turtles, and an enormous diversity of reef fish are among the possible encounters.
This route is perfect for adventurous divers who like to venture off the beaten path. Every dive offers the chance to discover something new and perhaps even visit dive sites where very few people have ever been underwater. A true expedition, then, in one of the most unspoiled diving areas of Papua New Guinea.
Best time to go on a diving vacation to Papua New Guinea:
The best time to take this cruise on the MV FeBrina is from April through June and from mid-September through November. During these months, weather conditions are generally the most stable and the sea is often calm, providing excellent diving conditions.
In addition to this route, the MV FeBrina sails several other unique routes through the waters of Papua New Guinea. For example, the Bismarck Sea Specials have been a favorite for years thanks to their combination of spectacular reefs, shipwrecks, and rich biodiversity. The expeditions to the remote Witu Islands are also known for their colorful coral gardens, volcanic landscapes, and excellent wide-angle diving.
Average temperatures
Wetsuit Recommendations for Papua New Guinea
Throughout the year, the water in Papua New Guinea is very pleasant. We therefore recommend a 3mm wetsuit or skin.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Days 1 & 2 | The Trip to Papua New Guinea
There are generally no direct flights from Europe to Papua New Guinea, so the trip begins with a flight to one of the major Asian hubs, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, or Kuala Lumpur. Depending on the airline, a layover in Australia—such as in Sydney or Brisbane—may also be part of the itinerary.
From this stopover, you’ll fly on to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. This flight takes an average of 4 to 8 hours, depending on your departure point in Asia or Australia.
Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you’ll transfer to a domestic flight to Hoskins Airport on the island of New Britain, where the diving adventure really begins. Depending on your arrival time in Port Moresby, you’ll spend one night in a hotel near the ferry terminal—a comfortable stopover before continuing your journey to the islands.
Day 3 | Arrival in Hoskins and start of the liveaboard
Today you’ll arrive at Hoskins Airport, the gateway to West New Britain Province and the Kimbe region—Papua New Guinea’s largest palm oil-producing area and the base for exploring the breathtaking Kimbe Bay. The domestic flight from Port Moresby takes just under an hour.
You’ll be met at the airport and taken by shuttle to the Walindi Plantation Resort. This beautiful resort is the starting point of the liveaboard trip. Since your trip begins here, you might also consider arriving a few days early and staying at the resort. The resort has its own dive school and offers excursions to the rainforest, waterfalls, and volcanoes.
You can board the MV FeBrina starting at 4:00 p.m. today. After getting to know the group and being greeted by the captain, you can settle into your cabin. Around 6:00 p.m., the FeBrina will set course for the first dive sites of the trip, where the adventure truly begins the next day.
Days 4–11 | Diving in Papua New Guinea
During this expedition, you’ll make 3 to 5 dives per day, depending on the itinerary, weather conditions, and the sites being explored. The days are laid-back, with plenty of time between dives to enjoy the surroundings and prepare for your next adventure.
Since this is an exploratory trip, the itinerary may be adjusted along the way. The crew determines the best dive sites each day based on conditions and any new discoveries.
Dive Sites on This Expedition
- Cape Gloucester: At the western tip of New Britain lie vast reefs that have barely been explored. You can expect to find spectacular coral gardens, steep walls, and a wide variety of marine life here. Reef sharks, sea turtles, and schools of barracuda are among the species regularly spotted here.
- Ritter Island: This unique volcanic island was formed after the massive eruption of 1888 and rises from the sea like a crescent moon. The steep underwater slopes and deep waters surrounding the island make it a fascinating location for exploration dives, where every descent can yield new surprises.
- Siassi and Umboi Islands: The volcanic island of Umboi and the surrounding Siassi Archipelago are among the least-visited areas of Papua New Guinea. Crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine reefs, and secluded beaches set the scene for a region where there is still much to discover. Precisely because diving is so rare here, every dive offers the chance for new discoveries and unique underwater encounters.
Day 12 | The Last Day of Diving
Today is your last day among the shimmering waves of Papua New Guinea. You’ll start the morning with two dives, each one a final chance to explore the enchanting underwater world of this region. After the dives, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch on board, and the ship will set course for the harbor of the Walindi Plantation Resort. You’ll spend the night on the boat. Dinner will most likely be a buffet at Walindi, which is about a 50-meter walk from the boat.
Days 13 & 14 | The Journey Home
After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to the MV FeBrina. Of course, you could start your journey home right away, but since you’re already in one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, it’s definitely worth staying a little longer. Papua New Guinea is home to more than 800 indigenous languages, vast tropical rainforests, and impressive cultural diversity.
For example, you can spend a few more days relaxing and diving at Walindi Plantation Resort, where the liveaboard departs from and returns to. Would you rather discover a new diving area? Then a stay at Tufi Resort—known for its spectacular fjords and colorful reefs—is an excellent choice.
Would you like to see more of the country? A week-long tour of Papua New Guinea, for example, is also an option. From traditional villages and breathtaking natural scenery to unique wildlife and cultural encounters: we’d be happy to put together an extension that perfectly complements your liveaboard adventure.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from Papua New Guinea?
Enormous biodiversity
Papua New Guinea is one of the most unspoiled diving destinations in the world. Due to its remote location, the reefs are exceptionally healthy, and you rarely encounter other divers. The clear waters are home to an enormous diversity of corals, reef fish, sharks, and sea turtles. Every dive feels like an expedition through an underwater world that, in many places, has remained virtually unchanged. It is precisely this combination of tranquility, nature, and biodiversity that makes this destination so special.
Kimbe Bay, Teeming with Life
Kimbe Bay is known for its impressive biodiversity and healthy coral reefs. You’ll dive along colorful reef walls, underwater mountains, and vast coral gardens teeming with schools of barracuda, reef sharks, sea turtles, and countless tropical fish. Thanks to the wide variety of dive sites, no two dives are ever the same. Larger species such as whale sharks and sperm whales are also occasionally spotted here, meaning every descent can lead to a surprising encounter.
Diving where no one else is
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
MV FeBrina
The MV FeBrina may not be a state-of-the-art liveaboard, but it is precisely her character, excellent maintenance, and experienced crew that have made her a household name in Papua New Guinea for many years. Since 1991, the FeBrina has been sailing the waters around Kimbe Bay and the surrounding archipelagos. The crew knows the dive sites like no one else and knows exactly where and when conditions are optimal. On board, there’s a relaxed, personal atmosphere thanks to the ship’s intimate size.
FeBrina, together with the MV Oceania and Walindi Plantation Resort, is part of a family-owned business that has played a key role in diving tourism and marine research in Papua New Guinea for decades. Biologists and doctoral students regularly stay on board or at Walindi to conduct scientific research. During some trips, interesting presentations are given about the region’s unique underwater life and natural environment.
Between dives, you can relax on the sun deck, enjoy meals in the cozy lounge, or share stories with fellow divers. The combination of personalized service, local knowledge, and a passion for nature makes a trip on the FeBrina much more than just a liveaboard vacation.
The MV FeBrina has seven comfortable cabins that can accommodate a total of ten guests. Thanks to the limited number of guests, you can enjoy a peaceful and intimate atmosphere on board.
You can choose from two small single cabins, two spacious single cabins, two twin/double cabins, and one double cabin. The spacious single cabins can also accommodate two people, if desired.
All cabins feature a private bathroom with a shower and toilet, individually controlled air conditioning, and plenty of storage space for your personal belongings. The decor is simple but comfortable, so you can relax after a day of diving.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is from € 4.459 p.p. per capita Based on two people in one cabin. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from € 4.459 p.p.
- 10 nights in a Twin/Double Cabin
- Accommodation on full board basis
- 9 days of diving (approx. 35 dives)
- Coffee, tea, water, snacks, and wine with dinner
- Return transfers Hoskins Airport
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Hoskins, via Port Moresby, from € 1.800 p.p.
- Tourist Visas (100 USD)
- Conservation fee (20 USD)
- Environmental and Safety Fee (9 USD per night)
- Alcoholic Beverages & Soft Drinks
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Additional overnight Port Moresby approx. € 120 p.p.
- Nitrox (€ 236)
- Diving equipment, including a computer (€ 75 s per day)
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Frequently asked questions about this diving holiday
Diving general
A typical day on board looks like this:
- Light breakfast, briefing, and first dive
- Extensive breakfast, surface interval, briefing, and second dive
- Morning tea, relaxation, briefing, and third dive
- Lunch, surface interval, briefing, and fourth dive
- An afternoon snack and, if possible, an evening or night dive
- Dinner
For this trip, you must have at least an Advanced certification and 30 logged dives.
Yes you can, costs are $210.00 p.p. for trips of 7/8 nights and $270.00 for trips of 9/10 nights.
It depends on the route and weather conditions, but on some days, up to 5 dives are scheduled. On other days, you can do up to 4 dives, and on the last day, you’ll do 2 dives.
On some days, there are night dives.
Diving equipment
Yes, using nitrox costs 270 USD for the entire trip, which is about € 236.
Yes, but we’ll need to discuss it. Please let us know well in advance what materials you need and in which month.
Liveaboard MV FeBrina
Yes, all rooms have a private bathroom in the cabin.
Yes, there is individual air conditioning.
There are 4 single cabins on the boat, which is quite unique for a liveaboard.
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