Rabaul Wreck Diving

Rabaul wreck diving combines two of Papua New Guinea's big stories: the Pacific War and an active volcano. Rabaul sits at the northeastern tip of New Britain, on the edge of Simpson Harbour, a flooded volcanic caldera. During the Second World War it was Japan's main base in the South Pacific, and Allied air raids left ships and aircraft on the harbour floor and in the bays around it. Today those wrecks are artificial reefs, and the volcanic landscape above them is just as dramatic.

A short history

Japanese forces took Rabaul in early 1942 and turned it into a fortress, with airfields, a busy harbour and a large network of tunnels dug into the hills. Allied bombing over the following years sank many ships in and around the harbour and brought down aircraft on both sides. Rabaul was bypassed rather than invaded and held out until the end of the war.

Much more recently, in 1994, the volcanoes Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted together and buried much of the old town under ash. Business moved to nearby Kokopo, and Tavurvur still steams and sometimes erupts. The ash and pumice have changed some dive sites, covering parts of wrecks, while others remain clear.

Types of wreck dives

• Ships in Simpson Harbour. Japanese supply ships and smaller vessels lie at a range of depths. Some of the most intact are deep, which makes them advanced or technical dives.
• Aircraft wrecks. Fighter and bomber remains lie in shallower water around the coast, some within easy recreational depth. They are often small and fragile, so look without touching.
• Barges and small craft. Landing barges and patrol boats, often in shallow water near shore, now covered in coral and sponges.

Your operator will match sites to your training and experience. Always ask for the depth before you agree to a dive.

Not only wrecks

The reefs around Rabaul are healthy and varied, and many divers are surprised by the quality of the wall and pinnacle diving outside the harbour. Some sites near the volcano have warm water and bubbles seeping from the volcanic sand, which makes for unusual dives. Dark volcanic sand also means muck diving close to shore, with frogfish, nudibranchs and other small animals.

Conditions

Visibility inside the harbour can be lower than on the open reefs, especially after rain or when the volcano is active, while outer sites are often clear. Water is warm all year. Deep wreck dives need careful gas planning and are best done with a guide who knows the wreck well. Check current volcanic activity and any access limits before you travel: the local authorities sometimes restrict areas close to Tavurvur.

On land

Plan at least a day out of the water. The Japanese tunnels and barge tunnels, the old airfield, wartime relics and the volcano observatory views make Rabaul one of the most interesting places in PNG to explore, and they give the wreck dives real context. Wait the usual surface interval before any high-altitude drive or climb near the volcano.

How to dive Rabaul

Fly from Port Moresby to Tokua Airport near Kokopo, the main town since the eruption. Land-based dive operators in the area run day trips to the harbour and outer reefs. Some Papua New Guinea liveaboards also start or finish in Rabaul, often combining it with New Ireland or Kimbe Bay diving.

For a second wreck region on the mainland, see Madang diving, and for visas, flights and packing, read Papua New Guinea dive trip planning.

Respect the wrecks

Many WWII wrecks in PNG are war graves. Do not take anything, do not enter areas your guide has not cleared, and keep off fragile structures. Penetration needs proper training and equipment.

Rabaul wreck diving FAQ