Papua New Guinea Dive Trip Planning

Papua New Guinea dive trip planning takes more care than a trip to most dive destinations. The country is remote, the domestic flight network is limited and many resorts and boats are a long way from towns. The good news is that almost every trip follows the same pattern, and a few early decisions make the rest straightforward. Use this guide as a checklist, and always confirm current rules with official sources and your operator.

Port MoresbyRegional airportResort or boat

1. Choose your region and style

Start with what you want to see. Reefs and seamounts point to Kimbe Bay diving; macro and critters to Milne Bay muck diving; wrecks to Rabaul wreck diving or Madang diving; scenery and culture to Tufi diving. Then decide between a land-based resort and one of the Papua New Guinea liveaboards.

2. Pick your dates

Check the wind season for your region in the best time to dive Papua New Guinea. Then check availability: resorts are small and boats carry few guests, so popular dates fill early.

3. Entry requirements

Papua New Guinea asks for a passport valid for at least six months from your date of travel, and most visitors need a visa or entry authority before they arrive. Which one, and how to apply, depends on your nationality, and the rules change from time to time. Check the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority or your nearest PNG embassy well before you book flights. Keep printed copies of your visa, bookings and insurance.

4. Flights

International flights arrive at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, with connections from Australia and several Asian hubs. From there, domestic flights reach the regional airports that serve each dive area:

Domestic schedules change, sometimes at short notice. Leave a buffer night in Port Moresby or at your regional airport on the way in, and do not book a same-day connection on the way out. Check baggage allowances for the domestic leg too: they are often lower than international ones, and small planes are strict about weight.

5. Health and insurance

• Dive insurance. Buy cover that includes diving accidents and medical evacuation. Recompression facilities in PNG are very limited, and serious cases may need evacuation abroad.
• Malaria. Malaria is present in many parts of PNG. Ask a travel doctor about prevention and use insect repellent and nets.
• Vaccinations. See a travel clinic several weeks before you go.
• Fitness to dive. If you have not dived recently, do a refresher before the trip.
• Flying after diving. Follow common guidance of at least 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving before you fly, and many divers allow a full 24 hours. This applies to the domestic flight out too.

6. Money and practicalities

• Currency. The kina (PGK). Cards work at many hotels and resorts, but carry some cash for villages, fees and tips.
• Power. PNG uses Type I plugs (the Australian style). Bring adapters and a power strip for camera gear.
• Connectivity. Mobile and internet coverage is patchy outside towns and absent on most liveaboards.
• Safety. Follow your operator's advice, use arranged transfers in cities and keep valuables out of sight.

7. What to pack

• Your own mask, computer and, if you can carry them, regulator and BCD you trust.
• A 3 mm wetsuit (5 mm if you feel the cold), reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard.
• Spares: O-rings, mask and fin straps, batteries and chargers. Dive shops are few.
• A torch for night dives and a focus light for macro.
• Certification cards, including nitrox, and your logbook.
• Light, modest clothing for villages, plus rain gear.

Dive trip planning FAQ