Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano)

Big Pigeon Island

Kabaira Drift

Little Pigeon Island

Rakua Reef (Duke of York Islands)

Simpson Harbour Wrecks

Submarine Base Wrecks

Rabaul and Kokopo have a strong local food scene built around fresh seafood, tropical produce, and PNG staples such as taro, cassava, and rice. Dive operators typically include lunch on full-day trips, and the towns offer restaurants serving grilled fish, curries, and international dishes. The volcanic soil produces excellent fruit and vegetables, and a cold drink at a harbourside café is a fine way to end a wreck dive day. Many resorts provide breakfast and dinner, with packed lunches for boat dives.

Rapopo Plantation Resort

Kokopo Beach Bungalows

East New Britain Hotel

Rabaul Hotel

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.

Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks)

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.

Where to Stay in Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks)

Accommodation Overview

Recommended Areas

Kokopo

Rabaul

Duke of York Islands

Featured Hotels & Resorts

Rapopo Plantation Resort

Kokopo Beach Bungalows

East New Britain Hotel

Rabaul Hotel