Scuba Diving in Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks)

About Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks)

Rabaul and East New Britain combine dramatic volcanic seascapes with some of the most accessible WWII wreck diving in the Pacific. Simpson Harbour and the old submarine base are littered with dozens of Japanese ships sunk in 1942 and 1943, including the Kenshin Maru, Manko Maru, Yamagiri Maru, Nanshin Maru, Amagisan Maru, and Komaki Maru, now coral-encrusted homes for groupers, batfish, and lionfish. Above the water, the active Tavurvur volcano frames the Beehives, where underwater volcanic vents release warm gas bubbles through black sand in a surreal, otherworldly landscape. For reef diving, Rakua Reef and the Kabaira Drift offer walls, turtles, and eagle rays, while the Pigeon Islands deliver remote pinnacles with mantas, hammerheads, and dogtooth tuna. Based around Kokopo and Rabaul, this region is a thrilling mix of history and geology.

Highlights

• ✓Simpson Harbour Wrecks: dozens of WWII Japanese ships including the Kenshin Maru, Manko Maru, and Yamagiri Maru.
• ✓Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano): underwater volcanic vents with warm gas bubbles through black sand.
• ✓Submarine Base Wrecks: the Amagisan Maru and Komaki Maru plus seaplane wrecks rich in macro life.
• ✓Kabaira Drift: a high-current wall drift with grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and tuna.
• ✓Big and Little Pigeon Islands: remote pinnacles with mantas, hammerheads, and macro.

Getting There

Rabaul and East New Britain are reached by domestic flight from Port Moresby to Tokua Airport near Kokopo, followed by a short road transfer to the dive bases. Daily boats depart for Simpson Harbour, the Beehives, and the Duke of York Islands, while the Pigeon Islands are a longer run best done on a liveaboard or dedicated day trip. The region's compact geography makes it easy to combine wrecks, volcano vents, and reef dives in a single stay.