The
Dive Sites
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Below
is a selection of our dive sites, but as you can see on the map
(please click to enlarge), there are
many more than the few that are described on this page. However,
this will give you some idea of the kind
of diving Kavieng has to offer. If you click on the name of the
reef, a map of the dive site will come up.
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Lissenung
Island Reef:
Surrounding about 2/3 of Lissenung Island, this reef is an
ideal spot for photographers and for night diving. You may
encounter Seahorse, six different species of Clownfish, Cockatoo
Waspfish, Crocodile Fish, all up almost 175
different species of fish call our small house
reef their home.
Off the island is also the wreck of a small yacht, which was
sunk in the 70ies.
Depth:
2 - 10 metres / 6 - 33ft
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Echuca
Patch:
This is a large ridge rising from 45m (150ft) to within 12m
(40ft) of the surface and is situated in the open ocean just
outside Kavieng. A Korean fishing boat, the 'Der Yang', lies
on its starboard side close to this ridge, in about 31 metres
of water. This point is a magnet for Barracudas and Jacks.
Depth: 12 - 31 metres / 40 - 103ft |
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Albatross
Passage:
At an incoming tide this narrow passage is like fish soup.
Eagle Rays, Mobula Rays, big Dogtooth Tunas, Barracudas,
plenty of Grey Reef Sharks and loads of other fish can be
seen here on almost every dive. The wall itself is overgrown
with big fan corals, black corals and sponges and this is
the home for small creatures like Nudibranchs, Leaf Scorpionfish
and Pygmy Seahorse. In our opinion Albatross is the best
dive in the Kavieng area and a must for every visiting diver.
Depth: 10 - 30 metres / 33 - 99ft
Dive
Site Map
Movie
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Danny's
Bommie:
Starting in about 7m (25ft) the outside of this bommie plunges
straight down to the abyss. Towards the island it is connected
through a saddle at 15m (50ft). The bommie is covered in hard
and soft corals and schools of Fusiliers and Batfish are seen
here on most dives.
Depth: 7 - 30 metres / 23 - 99ft |
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'Pete'
Floatplanes:
A
total of three of these Japanese reconnaissance planes have
been found so far. Discovered by the locals, they now make
for awesome dive sites! The pictures on the left are from
the "Deep Pete", near Nusa Island. Little critters
as well as schools of Batfish, Barracudas, Jacks and much
more ensure this slightly shorter dive (due to the depth
of 40m) is one not to be forgotten!
Depth: 18 & 40 metres / 60 - 132ft
Movie
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'Tenryu
Maru':
This Japanese merchant ship was sunk on 25 December 1943 by
allied aircraft at the south entrance to the Kavieng harbour.
After the war the top part of the wreck was blasted to open
the entrance of the harbour. Within the remains of this ship
you may find lots of artefacts as well as critters like Twinspot
Lionfish, big Murex shells and Tiger Cowries.
Depth: 16 - 22 metres / 53 - 73ft |
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B25
"Stubborn Hellion":
This American B 25 Bomber was shot
down
on February 14, 1944 by the Japanese army during the battle
around Kavieng. The plane sits upright in 12m (40ft) of
water, half
way between Lissenung Island and Albatross Channel. This
dive is especially interesting, because the whole history
of the plane and
its crew is known.
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The
Bottleshop:
Around the pylons of a slipway in the Kavieng harbour is probably
the best muck-dive in the area. Through the years an amazing
selection of bottles, cans and tyres have created a perfect
environment for critters. The weird and wonderful such as
Ghost Pipefish, Demon Stinger, Allied Cowries, Nudibranchs
and Shrimps, Octopus, Pipefish and many more are abundant
here. This dive is a must for the serious macro photographer.
Depth: 1 - 16 metres / 3 - 53ft |
Ral
Island:
You can either dive the beautiful coral garden at Ral Island
or you can dive the sand and sea grass area of this site
where you may find Seahorse, Frogfish, Sand Eels, Panda
Clownfish and Ghost Pipefish. This dive is another must
for the muck diving enthusiast.
Depth: 5 - 15 metres / 17 - 50ft
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Peter's
Patch:
Peter's Patch is the southeastern tip of a very large reef
system in Steffen Strait, the main shipping entrance into
Kavieng. With incoming tide this spot attracts lots of pelagic
fish such as Tunas, Jacks, Sharks and Barracudas and during
the whole dive a school of Batfish will most likely accompany
you.
Depth: 7 - 35 metres / 23 - 115ft
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Eagle
Ray Passage:
Peter's Patch is the southeastern tip of a very large reef
system in Steffen Strait, the main shipping entrance into
Kavieng. With incoming tide this spot attracts lots of pelagic
fish such as Tunas, Jacks, Sharks and Barracudas and during
the whole dive a school of Batfish will most likely accompany
you.
Depth: 7 - 35 metres / 23 - 115ft
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Planet
Channel:
A wall-like reef runs across this channel, which is beautifully
overgrown with soft corals, sponges and big fans. At an incoming
tide you almost always get to see schooling Barracudas and
Jacks, Sharks and Eagle Rays.
Depth: 14 - 40 metres / 46 - 132ft |
Matrix
This is probably the most beautiful drift dive in Kavieng.
Fantastic hard corals in the shallows and huge fan corals
from 20m (65ft) downwards make a beautiful scenery. And as
you drift along you may see Mobula Rays, Turtles, Sea Snakes
and of course some Sharks.
Depth: 2 - 35 metres / 7 - 115ft
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Helmut's
Reef:
With only about 100m (300ft) across this little patch reef
is situated in the middle of Steffen Strait. 7m (25ft) on
the top and sloping down to about 45m (150ft), this reef
is covered with beautiful hard corals and big fans. With
an incoming tide schools of Fusiliers and Redtooth Triggerfish
swarm around and make it difficult to focus on the Dogtooth
Tunas, big Mackerels and Grey Reef Sharks. This is not an
easy dive but you can expect the unexpected. |
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| There
are many other dive sites that we also visit frequently. Drop-offs,
reefs and some more aircraft wrecks plus miles of coast line
that still waits for our exploration. Even after more than
12 years of diving in this area, we still haven't seen it
all! |
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