MV Oceania – Diving in the Bismarck Sea
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Diving in the Bismarck Sea with the MV Oceania
Board the MV Oceania, a luxurious and comfortable liveaboard, based at the Walindi Plantation Resort in Kimbe New Britain. During this diving vacation, the MV Oceania will take you on an unforgettable diving trip along the Bismarck Sea route, one of the most popular routes offered by this liveaboard.
Along the way, you will stop at some of the most spectacular dive sites, including Father’s Reef, the Witu Islands and Kimbe Bay. The MV Oceania offers the perfect combination of luxury accommodation and unparalleled diving, with professional guidance and excellent facilities on board.
Best travel time: All year round, Papua New Guinea is a good diving destination. The optimal travel time is from mid-September to late November, and from April to June. In October and November, there is usually little rain, light breezes and plenty of sunshine, making conditions ideal for diving adventures.
In addition to the popular Bismarck Sea route, the MV Oceania also offers other liveaboard itineraries, including voyages to locations such as Rabaul, Kavieng and Milne Bay. Also, some itineraries are 9 or even 10 nights.
Milne Bay is a highly sought-after route and is offered only a few times a year, usually in the spring. Due to the popularity of this route, it is advisable to make reservations well in advance, sometimes even years in advance.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice 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
Day 1 & 2 - The journey to Papua New Guinea
Your adventure to mysterious Papua New Guinea begins at a major European airport. Typically, there are no direct flights to Papua New Guinea from Europe, so your first step will be a stopover in one of the major Asian hub airports, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila or Kuala Lumpur. Depending on your airline, this could also be an Australian hub, such as Sydney or Brisbane.
From your stopover, you will then fly to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. This flight takes about 4 to 8 hours, depending on your departure point. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, transfer to a domestic flight to Hoskins Airport, located on the island of New Britain.
Depending on what time you arrive in Port Moresby, you will stay 1 night at the Airways hotel, overlooking the airport runways.
Day 3 - Arrival in Hoskins & start Liveaboard
Today you land at Hoskins Airport. Hoskins Airport is the gateway to the province of Western New Britain and home to Kimbe, the country’s largest palm oil producing region and the gateway to breathtaking Kimbe Bay. The domestic flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins takes about two hours.
You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to the Walindi Plantation Resort. The drive takes about an hour and along the way you will enjoy the impressions of the lush, green landscape of Western New Britain.
At 4 p.m. it is time to board the MV Oceania. After everyone gets acquainted, the captain greets you and you are settled in your cabin, the liveaboard departs around 6 p.m., heading for the first dive sites for the next day.
Day 4 & 5 November - Kimbe Bay
For the next seven days, you will try to make 4 dives a day daily. You will start diving in the area of Kimbe Bay.
Kimbe Bay is known as the epicenter of the “Coral Triangle” due to the presence of more than 60 percent of all coral species in the Indo-Pacific. Divers are drawn to the abundance of reefs – more than 190 in all – that offer a range of habitats, including coral gardens, underwater pinnacles and mangrove areas. The marine life is very diverse, with numerous reef fish, pelagic species, sea turtles, and even the occasional whale shark and sperm whale. In addition to its fascinating underwater world, Kimbe Bay is also a center of marine conservation efforts, with active research and conservation projects to protect its fragile ecosystems.
Day 6 & 7 - Witu Islands
After Kimbe Bay, it is time to sail on to the Witu Islands. The Witu Islands are known for their beautiful coral gardens and underwater pinnacles. The biodiversity is impressive, with colorful reef fish, sharks, squids, crabs and even rare seahorses. Underwater visibility is often excellent, with distances of up to 30 meters. The Witu Islands are also a nesting ground for sea turtles and birds, making them a particularly important nature reserve. Due to their remote location and protected status, marine life in the Witu Islands is lush and pristine.
Day 8 & 9 - Father's Reef
Father’s Reef is a world-class dive site, beloved for its abundance of marine life. The reef is a series of undersea mountains that extend far into the Bismarck Sea. These unique geological formations create an array of deep drop-offs, picturesque underwater pinnacles, and coral-covered slopes.
The marine life at Father’s Reefs is as impressive as the scenery. Divers can expect an abundance of marine life, ranging from colorful reef fish and magnificent corals to majestic manta rays and playful dolphins. During certain seasons, even whale sharks and hammerhead sharks can be spotted.
Despite its popularity, Father’s Reefs remains a relatively unspoiled and pristine dive site, thanks to its remote location and commitment to conservation.
Day 10 - Last day of diving
Today is our last day under the shimmering waves of Papua New Guinea. We start the morning with two dives, each one a last chance to explore the enchanting underwater world of this region. After the dives, we enjoy a delicious lunch on board and the ship sets sail for the port of the Walindi Plantation Resort. Tonight you still sleep on the boat. Dinner will most likely be buffet style at Walindi. That’s about a 50-meter walk from the boat.
Day 11 & 12 - Return home or extend?
After a good breakfast, you will leave the MV Oceania around 09:00. You now have basically two choices, you start your return trip home or you extend your diving vacation with, say, a stay of a few days in Walindi (the resort where your boats dock) or you go explore yet another location of Papua New Guinea. Consider diving within the fjords of Tufi, for example, or the pristine Lissenung Island.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
MV Oceania
The MV Oceania is a 27-meter catamaran sailing in the waters of Papua New Guinea. The boat has just undergone an extensive refit and is modern and comfortable, designed with the modern diver in mind.
Meals on board are prepared with as much local, fresh produce as possible. A continental breakfast is available for the first dive of the day (before 6:30 a.m.) and hot breakfast items such as eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc. can be ordered after the first dive. Lunch is usually a buffet and includes a variety of salads, stir-fries, fried savory dishes, chicken wings, hot fries, etc. Dinner is what we would describe as ‘ fantastic homestyle cooking’, using locally produced meat and freshly caught fish whenever possible.
Complimentary tea and coffee and fresh fuit is available throughout the day. Refrigerators are stocked with an array of soft drinks, juices and SP beers. There is red and white wine on board and the brand is determined by what is on sale at the time. They strive to buy the best wines they can, but since PNG is a third-world country, we occasionally have limited choices.
There are a total of 8 cabins, 5 of which are equipped with two single beds and 3 with a large double bed. The cabins have individual air conditioning. You can also relax outside on the spacious sundeck for a relaxing surface interval after diving.
On the top floor of the Oceania you will find a large open space used for relaxing between dives, sometimes snacks and sundowners.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is from US$ 4.252 p.p.
per person
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 US$ 4.252 p.p.
- 8 Overnight stays on the MV Oceania
- Full board accommodation
- Return transfers Hoskins Airport
- Approx. 24-26 Dives on the MV Oceania
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
11-Jan-2024: Code Orange. Unfortunately, in early 2024, the travel advisory for PNG was changed to code orange due to ongoing unrest in the capital Port Moresby. We are keeping a close eye on the advisory, but at this time travel to PNG is thus discouraged. We are happy to jointly discuss alternatives and solutions.
20-08-2024: Unfortunately, still code orange.
Excluding
- Flight to Hoskins, via Port Moresby, from US$ 1.261 p.p.
✈︎ 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. US$ 126 p.p.
- Nitrox MV Oceania approx. US$ 199 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Liveaboard MV Oceania
Yes definitely, and there are 2 large water tanks on board allowing you to shower after each dive.
Yes, there is individual air conditioning.
Yes, chances are good. If you really don’t want this, you can get a cabin alone for an additional fee. Price upon request. Usually the supplement is about 75% of the price of the cabin/hotel room.
Diving equipment
Yes you can, costs are $210.00 p.p. for trips of 7/8 nights and $270.00 for trips of 9/10 nights.
By arrangement.
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