ITINERARY
Please use this itinerary as a guide only. We will take the opportunity to dive in the true spirit of exploration and investigate new sites, recommended reefs and famous wrecks. Weather/sea conditions will dictate our final itinerary. Please note that the second expedition is the reverse order of the first and that the approximate voyage track will remain the same.

Day 1
Arrive in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Today we will all arrive in Port Moresby, capital city of Papua New Guinea. Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will transfer the nearby Airways Hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax around the bar and pool or get over your jetlag. Also the Airways hotel can arrange day tours if you’re feeling more adventurous.

Day 2:
Depart Port Moresby / Embark RV Shokalskiy
A transfer will be organized early afternoon from the Airways Hotel to the local airport where your Air Niugini flight will depart for Lae. Lae, PNG's 2nd largest city is a 45-minute flight over the 13,500 ft mountainous spine of the PNG mainland. In the port of Lae we join our ship and settle in to the vessel that will be our home for the entire expedition. We will cast off the
lines early evening and set sail to the south west, into the Solomon Sea.

Day 3:
Reefs of the Solomon Sea
First charted by the French explorer D'Entrecasteaux, these waters have long been regarded as treacherous by early mariners and were only begun to be surveyed by the HMS Dart in 1885. Literally hundreds of undersea pinnacles or 'bommies' rise over 1000 feet from the depths of the Solomon Sea to provide divers with an idyllic playground of clear sparkling waters giving way to endless shades of blue. Located up to 40 miles from the mainland and its associated rainfall runoff, the visibility in these waters can be spectacular, and affords excellent viewing of the pelagic species that frequent these areas: manta rays, eagle rays, dolphins, tuna, barracuda, Spanish mackerel and perhaps even the rare white hammerhead shark.

Day 4-5:
Tufi Fiords and Reefs
This morning we continue diving on bommies as we head for Cape Nelson and the unique Tufi Fiords. At Tufi, we have the opportunity to head ashore to stretch our legs and perhaps view some of the local birds and butterflies, as well as the friendly local villagers. However, if the 'pull of the deep' remains strong and you may wish to keep diving; this time on the wartime
wrecks in the enclosed fiord, or perhaps on one of the excellent 'muck dives' that are found in these gentle waters. As the evening draws in, we take the opportunity to partake in sundowner' cocktails in the peaceful grounds of the local 'Tufi Dive Resort' before returning to Shokalskiy for a BBQ as the full moon rises above the sparkling sea.

Day 6:
Star Reefs
Today we plan to explore the complex Star Reef system which spans 30 miles from north to south. We begin the day in the vicinity of Rothwell Reef and will finish near Kanapu Island toward the late afternoon. The day is filled with the spirit of true exploration as our divemasters assess both wind and tide, then invite us to explore the reefs in the order that they appear before us. In the evening we set course for the huge island of New Britain some 120 miles due north and during the night we will traverse the width of the Solomon Sea under a curtain of stars.

Day 7-8:
Gasmata/Lindenhaven (South Coast New Britain)
Over 250 miles long, New Britain is PNG’s largest island by far. The broad south coast, which lies in the rain-shadow created by the interior high country, provides an exciting range of dives that our local guides will be introduce us too. We will spend a full day at our arrival point, the Gasmata/Lindenhaven area, and the location of an idyllic island-studded lagoon that contains many underwater remnant of the WWII Japanese floatplane base. The sea here positively teems with life as the waters of the Solomon Trench provide an upwelling of cooler nutrient-rich waters to support an abundance of species. In the evening we will begin our eastwards journey and enjoy 'sundowner' refreshments as we steam adjacent to this magical coast.

Day 9:
Waterfall Bay
As dawn breaks we will drop anchor at this enchanting bay on a coast that is punctuated with magical waterfalls and clear cool rivers flowing from the jungle interior. Here we hope to start our day with a morning dive into the 'Blue Hole' a crystal clear, 180 feet deep fresh water spring the size of a swimming pool. After a full day of diving we will weigh anchor and sail around Crater Point as we turn northward towards the active volcanoes of Rabaul.

Day 10:
Rabaul
In September 1994 the volcanoes surrounding Rabaul exploded, burying this once tranquil South Seas town and destroying it forever. As we approach the area we will observe firsthand a living volcanic spectacle. Our diving theme for today is 'critter dives' with our local guides
providing us with a diving extravaganza that will "blow your fins off". In addition we will chose between a harbor dive, muck dives, wreck dives or a tour of the Duke of York Islands. It is here that in 1914, Australia’s first submarine sank, and still lies awaiting discovery. This evening we head westward as we reach the top of New Britain and our northernmost point
just 40 from the equator.

Day 11:
Father Reef
Famous for the large creatures that visit this area despite the relative absent of current, Father Reef is destined to become a favorite site for everyone that dives here. The reef marks the outer limits of Kimbe Bay, our general location for the next few days, and home to over 350 species of coral and over 900 species of fish. Father Reef will offer us shark action, large pelagic fish and the chance to encounter dolphins. This evening we sail westward for the Witu Islands, some 80 miles towards the sunset...

Day 12:
Witu Islands
At dawn we complete our final approach to this chain of beautiful volcanic islands. Our divemasters will assess weather and tide conditions to ensure we make best use of our day in this aquatic paradise. Centre stage is the incredibly scenic landscape of the flooded caldera of Garove Island. Today we’ll meet the locals; barracudas, trevally, dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel, and sharks. The reefs here are covered with gorgonian fans, black corals, different species of soft corals and hydroids. There will also be the opportunity to go and view tailed sea
slugs, nudibranchs, razor fish and much more.

Days 13-14:
Kimbe Bay
The next two days give us a unique opportunity to relax and enjoy world class diving from our own 'giant liveaboard' as we make our way lazily into the heart of Kimbe Bay, the Walindi Plantation Resort. This area is world renowned as a prime Pacific dive site as over 70% of all coral species in the Indo/Pacific region can be found in Walindi's waters; no other dive area in the world can boast such diversity. World famous dive locations abound with more than 200 reefs and dive sites that dot this majestic bay. We will ensure that the level of diving we offer maximizes your opportunity to sample the delights of the deep. The program will feature 5 dives a day so that you can select a pace that suits you. As we anchor off Walindi Plantation resort, we will have access to other activities in this tropical playground; enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the resort, explore WWII remains, take a fishing charter, go bird watching on a guided trek, or just simply relax by the pool and sample the local cocktails. The calm lagoon and peaceful setting offer the perfect backdrop for sunset drinks. A traditional Shokalskiy expedition barbeque will be held on the bow during our final evening, providing us with a chance to reminisce on an unforgettable diving adventure shared together.

Day 15:
Hoskins. Disembark RV Akademik Shokalskiy
Breakfast will be served on board before we say our farewells to the crew of the Shokalskiy and transfer ashore. The friendly staff at the Walindi Plantation Resort will assist us as we drive inland to catch our outbund aircraft from Hoskins Airport to Port Moresby and onward to our home destinations. For those not wishing to depart today, Walindi Plantation Resort offers an excellent starting point for your extended stay in Papua New Guinea; land of the unexpected.
If you require more information or wish to confirm your participation please contact:
belinda@deepoceanexpeditions.com

Tropical Diving - Papua New Guinea (PDF)