Scuba Diving in Tufi (Cape Nelson, Oro Province – Fjords & Reefs)

About Tufi (Cape Nelson, Oro Province – Fjords & Reefs)

Tufi, on Cape Nelson in Oro Province, is one of the most visually dramatic diving regions in Papua New Guinea, where flooded river valleys have carved a series of fjords with vertical walls plunging to 60 metres through crystal-clear water. The Tufi Fjords are draped in huge sea fans and black coral, with nudibranchs and crevice macro life, while the outer fjord mouths summon schooling barracuda, mackerel, reef sharks, and manta rays. Sinou Fjord is a less-dived, pristine wall rich in pygmy seahorses and whip corals, Tufi Wharf is a classic muck dive for seahorses and frogfish, and offshore Cyclone Reef and Mount Trafalgar deliver grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, and seasonal hammerheads. Reached from Port Moresby by flight and a scenic transfer, Tufi is a fjord-diving gem for photographers and explorers.

Highlights

• ✓Tufi Fjords: flooded river valleys with vertical walls to 60 m, huge sea fans, black coral, and outer manta and shark action.
• ✓Sinou Fjord: a pristine, less-dived wall with pygmy seahorses and whip corals.
• ✓Tufi Wharf: a shallow muck dive for seahorses, frogfish, and ghost pipefish.
• ✓Cyclone Reef: an offshore pinnacle with grey reef sharks, barracuda, and dogtooth tuna.
• ✓Mount Trafalgar: a steep drop-off with jacks, tuna, and seasonal hammerheads.

Getting There

Tufi is reached by domestic flight from Port Moresby to the airstrip at Cape Nelson, followed by a short boat or road transfer to the Tufi Dive Resort. Daily boats explore the fjords, the wharf, and the offshore pinnacles, with most sites only minutes from base. The scenic flight and fjord setting make the journey itself a highlight of the trip.