Bass Reef Dive Site

Site Overview

Bass Reef, within the Port Moresby & Loloata Island (Central Province) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. A sloping coral reef abundant in nudibranchs, frogfish, and seahorses, a macro favourite close to the capital. Geographically the site features slope and reef and bommie formations built from coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 28 metres, with an average working depth near 16 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 10 to 24 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Frogfish (Antennarius sp.), Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.), Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.), Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus sp.), Anthias (Pseudanthias sp.), alongside dense reef fish, invertebrates, and the soft and hard corals that blanket the reef. The mix of nutrient-rich currents and Papua New Guinea's remote, well-protected reefs makes Bass Reef one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Bass Reef is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Port Moresby, and it rewards wide-angle photographers, naturalists, and experienced drift divers alike. Papua New Guinea's strong community-based conservation ethos and remoteness help keep the reef pristine, so divers are asked to maintain exemplary buoyancy and respect the fragile marine environment at all times.