Diving trip to Papua New Guinea • Walindi Plantation Resort
Stay at the intimate Walindi Resort and discover the spectacular underwater world of Kimbe Bay. Eight days of diving will take you to pristine reefs teeming with colorful coral, reef sharks, sea turtles, and unparalleled biodiversity.
Travel period
Features
Starting from
Diving in the spectacular Kimbe Bay
Papua New Guinea is one of the most remote and unspoiled diving destinations in the world. In West New Britain Province, far off the beaten path, Walindi Plantation Resort is situated on the shores of spectacular Kimbe Bay. This small, family-run business has been the region’s leading specialist for over forty years and is the only dive operator active here. This gives you access to a large number of beautiful dive sites where you won’t encounter any other dive boats—a rare experience in a world where many popular dive destinations are becoming increasingly crowded.
Beneath the surface lies one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. Kimbe Bay is located in the Coral Triangle and is known for its extensive hard and soft coral reefs, colorful pinnacles, steep walls, and impressive seamounts. During your dives, you may encounter massive schools of barracuda, tuna, and fusiliers, as well as reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, and—with a little luck—hammerhead sharks. At the same time, it’s a paradise for macro enthusiasts, with pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, and countless colorful reef dwellers.
There’s plenty to discover above water, too. Walindi Resort is nestled in the heart of a tropical setting featuring rainforests, volcanoes, and hot springs. Take a nature walk, go in search of New Britain’s unique birds, or visit the famous firefly trees. In addition, Kimbe Bay has been an important research area for marine biologists for many years. Researchers staying at the resort regularly give interesting presentations on the unique biodiversity and conservation of this remarkable ecosystem.
With comfortable bungalows by the sea, an excellent restaurant, a relaxed atmosphere, and an experienced team that takes care of virtually all the practical details of diving, Walindi Resort is the ideal base from which to explore one of the last truly unspoiled diving areas in the world.
Best time to go on a diving vacation to Papua New Guinea
July through November is generally considered the best time to visit. During these months, the sea is often at its calmest, visibility is excellent (20 to 40 meters), and conditions are ideal for both wide-angle and macro photography.
December through June also offers excellent diving conditions. There is a bit more rain, but it usually consists of short, tropical showers. You often hardly notice it underwater, and the water temperature remains pleasant year-round.
Average temperatures
Wetsuit Recommendations for Papua New Guinea
In most cases, a 3mm or even a rashguard will suffice. Around the month of August, the water in Tufi is the coldest, about 26C. Then you might even consider a 5mm.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Days 1 & 2 | The Trip to Papua New Guinea
Today you’ll begin your journey to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. The capital is located on the island of New Guinea. Traveling from Europe to Port Moresby usually requires a combination of international flights. The most common routes involve layovers in Singapore or Brisbane. Travelers can choose from several airlines that serve these routes. Although the trip may take some time, it offers adventurous travelers the chance to discover an unspoiled piece of paradise.
On Day 2, you’ll arrive in Port Moresby, and it will likely no longer be possible to fly on to New Britain, the island where the Walindi Plantation Resort is located. If that’s the case, you can stay overnight at a hotel near the airport.
Flights to New Britain depart daily, so there are no specific arrival or departure days when you stay at this resort.
Day 3 | A short flight to New Britain
After breakfast, you’ll head back to the airport for a final, short flight to New Britain. The domestic flight takes just under an hour.
Upon arrival at Hoskins Airport, a shuttle will be waiting to take you to the resort. It’s about an hour’s drive. Once you arrive at the Walindi Plantation Resort, you can check in and spend the rest of the day exploring this enchanting area.
Days 4 through 11 | Diving in Kimbe Bay
During this trip, you’ll go on eight days of diving, setting out by boat each morning for two dives in the spectacular waters of Kimbe Bay. Your dive package includes 18 dives, so on some days you’ll do 3 dives. Most dive sites are a short boat ride from the resort, allowing you to spend plenty of time underwater and enjoy a hearty lunch on board or back at the resort between dives, depending on the schedule.
Kimbe Bay is part of the Coral Triangle, the region with the greatest marine biodiversity in the world. The bay is known for its exceptionally healthy coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and enormous variety of underwater landscapes. You’ll dive along steep walls, colorful coral gardens, seamounts, and pinnacles rising from the deep sea. With more than 900 species of fish and hundreds of different coral species, virtually every dive is different. You may encounter schools of barracuda, tuna, and horse mackerel, as well as reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, and—with a bit of luck—hammerhead sharks on the more distant reefs. Kimbe Bay is also a paradise for macro enthusiasts, with nudibranchs, shrimp, ghost pipefish, and countless other tiny inhabitants.
Dive sites you might visit include:
- South Emma Reef – One of the most famous dive sites in Kimbe Bay, featuring enormous barrel sponges, colorful soft corals, large fan corals, and an impressive swim-through. Barracudas, schools of fusiliers, and reef sharks are regularly spotted here.
- Inglis Shoal – An isolated pinnacle teeming with hard and soft corals. The sandy bottom is home to gobies and garden eels, while barracudas, sea turtles, and gray reef sharks are often seen swimming around the reef top.
- Hanging Gardens – Walindi’s house reef dive. A steep wall covered with hanging sponges, overhangs, and small caves teeming with macro life, such as nudibranchs, flatworms, and shrimp. It’s also an excellent spot for a night dive.
- Bradford Shoals – A spectacular reef with colorful soft corals, large schools of reef fish, and predatory fish that are often seen hunting. The current makes this a favorite spot for pelagic species.
- Joelle’s Reef – A photogenic dive site featuring a mix of hard corals, large gorgonians, and plenty of reef fish. There’s always something new to discover here, from small macro species to larger pelagic visitors.
Day 12 | Exploring the Island Itself
After eight days of diving, the last day is a great time to explore the impressive nature and culture of New Britain. Walindi Resort organizes various excursions so you can discover just how special this region is, even above water.
You can opt for a hike to the Garbuna Volcano, an active volcano accessible through a tropical rainforest. Along the way, you’ll encounter unique plants, birds, and insects, and once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the volcanic landscape. Prefer something more relaxing? Then a visit to the Hot River is highly recommended. This natural hot spring winds through the rainforest and offers a unique spot to enjoy a warm mineral bath surrounded by nature.
History and wildlife enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy. Visit the well-preserved World War II aircraft wrecks, take a stroll through a local village, or set out early to spot New Britain’s unique bird species. One of the most extraordinary evening excursions is a visit to the firefly trees, where thousands of fireflies light up in unison, creating a spectacular natural light show. For those who prefer to view the area from above, there are also panoramic helicopter flights over Kimbe Bay, the rainforests, and the volcanoes.
Days 13–15 | The Journey Home
Today you’ll fly back to Port Moresby. Depending on your international flight, you’ll either continue on to your home destination the same day or stay one more night at a hotel near the airport. Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll land back in Europe on day 14 or 15, having just completed an unforgettable diving trip through one of the world’s most pristine diving regions.
Would you like to discover even more of Papua New Guinea’s spectacular underwater world? Then you can combine your stay at Walindi Resort with one of the two liveaboards operated by the same family-run company: MV FeBrina or MV Oceania. Both ships depart directly from the resort and sail to remote reefs and dive sites that are inaccessible from the coast. The itineraries range from the famous Bismarck Sea to special expeditions to less-visited areas. Moreover, these liveaboards are the only ones operating in much of this region, allowing you to dive at sites where hardly any other divers go. You can therefore also choose to shorten your stay at the resort slightly and spend part of your trip on board.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from a stay at the Walindi Plantation Resort?
An underwater world teeming with life
Kimbe Bay is one of the most biodiverse diving areas in the world. Thanks to its location in the Coral Triangle, you’ll find an impressive variety of hard and soft corals, enormous schools of reef fish, and a surprising mix of large and small marine life. From barracudas, tuna, and reef sharks to colorful nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses, every dive offers new encounters and different underwater landscapes.
Diving in places where almost no one goes
A Passion for the Ocean
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Walindi Plantation Resort
Walindi Resort is a small, charming family-run business where personal attention is key. The resort is part of the same family business as the liveaboards FeBrina and Oceania, making it easy to combine a stay on land with a liveaboard trip. Thanks to years of experience in diving travel, absolutely everything is tailored to divers and nature lovers.
The main building is the heart of the resort. Here you’ll find the front desk, the Casuarina Restaurant, the cozy Planter’s Bar, a swimming pool with a sun deck, a small boutique, and a spacious library with books on marine life, nature photography, and the history of Papua New Guinea. Coffee, tea, and Wi-Fi are available all day in the lounge, and in the late afternoon, you can enjoy the view of Kimbe Bay while sipping a drink. All meals are included and consist of a varied mix of Western and Asian dishes, prepared using local ingredients whenever possible.
What makes Walindi extra special is its close collaboration with marine researchers. For decades, scientific research has been conducted in Kimbe Bay by biologists and doctoral students from international universities. These researchers regularly stay at the resort and give informal presentations about their work. For lovers of underwater life, this offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the remarkable biodiversity and conservation efforts in Kimbe Bay.
The diving school
The diving school and facilities
Walindi Dive Center
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package costs £ 386 per person, based on two people sharing a Standard Room. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of items are included as standard 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 £ 3.627 p.p.
- 10 nights in a Plantation House Room
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Diving package with 18 boat dives
- Airport Transfers
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Port Moresby from £ 2.106 p.p.
- Airport hotel in Port Moresby on Day 2 and Day 13
- Environmental & Safety Fee (£ 9 s per day)
- Marine Conservation Fee (£ 2 per day)
✈︎ 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
- Diving equipment, complete set approx. £ 64 per diem
- Night Dive, approx. £ 129 per dive
- Unguided shore dive, approx. £ 21 per dive
- Nitrox, approx. £ 9 per tank
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Frequently asked questions about this diving holiday
Diving general
This diving trip is suitable for divers of all skill levels. There are plenty of dive sites for divers with little experience, as well as plenty of dive sites for divers with a lot of experience.
In the morning, you’ll do two boat dives.
In total, you can go on 4 dives each day. Your dive package includes 2 boat dives. You can supplement this with an unguided dive on the house reef (cost: 20 USD per dive) and a night dive (cost: 125 USD per dive).
Yes, you can go on night dives. This is not included as standard in your dive package. A night dive costs 125 USD (€ 110), including a torch. Night dives are always guided.
Yes, various PADI courses are offered.
Yes, on-site.
Diving equipment
Both tanks are present.
Yes, you can dive with nitrox. Using nitrox costs 10 USD per tank. That’s about € 9.
That’s possible. The prices are converted from USD, so they may be slightly higher or lower. A complete set consists of a BCD, regulator, mask, fins, and dive computer.
- Full set per day: 60 USD, approximately € 55
- Complete 5-day set: 210 USD, approximately € 185
Activities, Excursions, and Wellness
Yes, the snorkeling in this area is fantastic. The dive shop also offers options for freedivers.
The Walindi Resort offers a variety of excursions. Visit the hot springs at Hot River, take a hike to the Garbuna volcano, explore World War II relics, or join a birdwatching excursion to spot New Britain’s unique bird species. An evening excursion to the famous firefly trees is also an option.
No, the resort does not have a spa or wellness center.
Accommodation / Resort
Wi-Fi is available for free in the resort’s main building. Please note that the signal does not reach the rooms and bungalows.
Would you like to use the internet at your accommodation? If so, your best option is to purchase a local SIM card. You can do this online or buy a SIM card upon arrival at the airport in Port Moresby. Digicel is the provider with the best coverage.
Yes, there is a restaurant at the resort. Your stay is on a full-board basis, so all meals are included.
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