Papua New Guinea

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• Visiting super yachts: May enter and remain without payment of import duty.
• Customs Declared Ports: Port Moresby, Rabaul, Kieta, Vanimo, Lae, Madang, Wewak, Kavieng, Kimbe, Samarai, Daru, Lorerigau, Oro Bay and Alotau.
• Documentation Required: At the first port of call, vessels are required to present clearance from your last overseas port, passports for all on board, crew and passenger list if applicable, a stores list showing high dutiable goods including fuel, oil, arms and ammunition.
• Immigration: Regulations change regularly for the latest information contact the super yacht agent. Melanesian Tourist Services Ltd, PO Box 707, Madang, PNG
• Pilotage: Vessels over 30m require a pilot to enter any port. 24 hours notice is required.
• Guide Hire: To get the best experiences in the various provinces, hire a local guide that can show you the best, the secret and the unmissable, it will be money very well spent. A super yacht agent can help you in this matter.

Pilotage: Vessels over 30m require a pilot to enter any port. 24 hours notice is required.

Anchoring: Please take care when anchoring, avoiding sites with a coral bottom. Vessels under 30m can use moorings. Larger vessels are better to anchor off the dive site area and access it via tender. Active night watch should be kept by all vessels. Please do not allow locals to board without specific invitation or distribute alcohol to anyone. Care should be taken to stow all tenders onboard at night.

Dive Protocols: If a dive site is close to a village (two nautical miles) permission should be sought from the villagers before diving. It is important to state that no taking will occur and that it is purely tourist diving. Permission is usually granted and the villagers look forward to trading fruit and vegetables with the vessel. It is good politics to purchase as well as having staples of sugar, flour and loose tea for trading. Kina is required for purchases and artifacts. Bring plenty and small change. Payment for diving is required. Normally set at a price per diver however on larger vessels with a small number of guests a vessel rate may apply. Shore visits, dancing and guided tours are extra and will need to be negotiated. It is important to log all dives and record GPS marks, how many divers etc and any monies paid and to whom. Many regular dive sites have visitor books and you pay whoever brings the book. In areas where there are no villages, the dives should still be logged and presented to a local representative. If in doubt payment can be given to the PNG Divers Association for forwarding. Contact a Superyacht Agent for details.

Prized Gifts To Offer: School exercise books, pens and pencils are welcome and sunglasses, t-shirts and fishing hooks are a big hit. Lollies (sweets) are always appreciated by the children.

Regions of Interest

East & West Sepik Region

The Sepik Region is a wonderland of islands, beautiful coastlines, river systems and mountain ranges. Along with the stunning scenery, the area also has a rich history and was the site of Japanese surrender in September 1945. But it is the timeless history of the Sepik people themselves which provides the mystery and exotic folklore of this fascinating area. The Sepik River runs 1126km from its source in the central mountains to the sea. Its volume of annual water flow makes it one of the world’s largest waterways and many super yachts have travelled inland to explore it. Contact a super yacht agent for details. Uncover cultures found deep within the central mountains to the sea.

Madang Province

Framed by the Bismarck mountains and PNG’s highest peak, Mt. Wilhelm 4509m, boasts lush tropical vegetation, sparkling offshore islands and reef fringed lowlands. The Madang township dubbed “the prettiest in the South Pacific” is colourful and modern with a tropical deep water harbour. World famous coral gardens abound for brilliant diving and snorkeling with excellent visibility. Explore 34 sunken, second world war Japanese warships off Bogia, and enjoy great fishing off Bagabag Island. The Historic Madang Resort Hotel located on the picturesque waterfront of the Dallman passage, has comprehensive facilities and includes Elizabeth Sowerby’s orchid collection as part of its attractions. The resort’s 30m Kalibobo Spirit is available for charter and Nui Guinea Dive can provide excellent guides to get the most from your visit. Madang also hosts the four day Mabarosa festival, a colourful display of dancing, sing sings and bamboo bands.

East New Britain Province

This is literally a definite hot spot. Rabaul, built inside a volcano, and where the iconic mask festival is held in July, was destroyed in 1994. Two volcanoes simultaneously erupted and lava still flows today. During the second world war this Province was the base of the Japanese Western Pacific HQ. The Simpson harbour, Titui point, reefs and land surrounding Rabaul are littered with war wrecks. The Baining people perform a fire dance, dancing in and around the flames without being hurt, Melanesian magic at its best. Miolo Island in the Duke of York Islands is a incredible destination for snorkeling, picnics and dolphin watching.

New Ireland Province

Long, narrow and mountainous, with never ending beaches, Kavieng is straight out of a Somerset Maughan novel. The skilled island people make New Ireland an intriguing place to visit. War wrecks, big fish, coral and sharks make for spectacular diving, fishing and snorkeling. The popular Malagan show is the unique shark calling festival, a traditional practice in these parts. Kite surfing in this area is excellent. Eco friendly, Lissenung Island Resort, is located on an idyllic, boutique, tropical island with brilliant surf breaks, magnificent sunsets and some of the world’s best coral reefs.

Oro Province

This land of fjords was created by volcanoes not glaciers. Tufi is situated between Lae and Alotau, on the tip of Cape Nelson. Only accessible by air and sea this is truly an adventurer’s paradise. Large coral outcrops and sandy cays make for awesome diving, fishing, snorkeling, canoeing, traditional outrigger safaris, kayaking, bird watching, beach BBQ’s and cultural interaction with the friendly locals. Tufi resort is a boutique resort nestled atop a breathtaking fjord with 180˚ panoramic views of the Coral Sea and mountains.

Milne Bay Province

Milne Bay is one of the least known but best destinations with some of the friendliest people in PNG. Samarai, D’Entrecasteaux, Trobriands, Woodlark, Lachlin and Louisades Archipilago makeup the 160 named islands and 500 cays and atolls over 250,000km2. Milne Bay was once a second world war battleground and stronghold of the Japanese military. Today wreck diving is a major tourism attraction. Alotau on the mainland is a good base for visiting the outlying groups and hosts the traditional Kenu and Kundu festival, featuring traditional canoes in November. Take a walk around historic Samarai. Manta rays and dugong can be found at islands nearby. Basilaki Island offers diving on aircraft wrecks. Ferguson, Normanby and Goodenough Islands make up the D’Entrecasteaux, which offer hot springs, splurting mud pools, excellent diving on the Calypso reef complex and adventurous climbing. The Trobriands are known as the islands of love, and have a unique social system. The yam festival is spectacular. On Kitava Island, traditional dancers and artifact markets can be arranged. The Louisiade Archipilago is an unspoilt string of coral islands where islanders lead a long-forgotten lifestyle.