Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano) Dive Site

Site Overview

Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano), within the Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. Unique underwater volcanic vents where warm gas bubbles rise through black sand amid fields of sulphur-oxidising bacteria, a surreal landscape rich in macro life. Geographically the site features vent and slope and sand formations built from black-sand and rock and rubble substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 22 metres, with an average working depth near 12 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 8 to 18 metres, while water temperatures hold between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Sulphur-oxidising Bacteria (Beggiatoa), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus sp.), Frogfish (Antennarius sp.), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Octopus (Octopus 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 Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Beehives (Tavurvur Volcano) is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Rabaul, 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.