Papua New Guinea is a land of variety and contradiction. It likes to be called the "land of the unexpected" and for sure one of the most exciting, remote and adven-tures places in the world to travel. Wild nature and unknown cultures fascinate many people. The country possesses some of the best dive spots in the world. Deep or shallow reefs, coral walls, sheer drops, barrier reefs, atolls, passages, lagoons and wrecks (many of them W.W.II wrecks), all with a unique variety of species, are found throughout the region.
Port Moresby is the starting point for excursions to the Eastern Fields Reefs and Portlock Reef in the Coral Sea. These reefs are 170 km south-west of Port Moresby, only accessible by live aboard. The Eastern Fields Atoll consists of several first class dive spots, one of which is Jay’s Reef. A bom-mie that rises from a spur situated at 20 m (65 ft), this spot is a amazing spot where two dozens of silver-tip sharks and just as many grey reef sharks come to feed, only to be joined by a few moray eels. The best spot to marvel at this sight is by positioning yourself below the sharks, giving you a wonderful position for underwater photography in the process.
Named after Carl Roessler, 2007 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee, Carl’s Ultimate truly is among the world’s great dives. If you fancy corals, Carl’s Ultimate will give you exactly that and much more. Experience a profuse variety of soft and hard corals, whips, sea fans and sponges as you descend to 27 m (90 ft). It is at this spot that you will be able to see a glimpse of what the marine life has to offer: sharks, turtles, barracudas, trevallies, potato cod’s, dog tooth tuna, yellow fin tuna and mackerel to name but a few.
Continuing your exploration of this truly magnificent region you will come across the dive site S’Jacob. If wreck dives is what you are looking for, then seek no further, because even a five star rating for this site would do it hardly any justice. Close your eyes for a moment and picture a 3000-ton shipwreck that has neither been fished nor salvaged. This is no utopia, but S’Jacobs. Even though the wreck is really huge you could have problems taking a picture of it, because the number of fish inhabiting the site is so huge that they will constantly be in-between you and a clear shot of the wreck. You’ll have to chase mantas, groupers, anthias and batfish away in order to get your wreck-shot: a hindrance that most di-vers are all to willing to deal with. If you have finally made it to the wreck itself you will see that the ship is upright with its funnel rising to 35 m (115 ft). Enjoy the artefacts, such as lanterns, guns and an anti-mine vehicle, which are scattered around. If you decide to enter the wreck, we suggest doing so through the bridge, but other easy penetrations are possible. Please do not remove anything from the site so that other can enjoy the same five star site that you did.
drift dive-lovers Craig’s Ultimate is not to be missed if diving Eastern Fields. Situated on the western side of Eastern Fields, this is a smaller reef where you pass overhangs, cracks and caverns beautifully decorated with soft corals.
Additional to the drift dive experience this is a place where you will be able to experi-ence different hammerheads such as the scalloped hammerhead or the great hammerhead.