Bradford Shoal Dive Site

Site Overview

Bradford Shoal, within the Kimbe Bay (New Britain – Coral Hotspot) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. A seamount with pelagic action similar to Inglis Shoal, where hammerheads are possible and huge gorgonian fans decorate the pinnacle. Geographically the site features seamount and pinnacle and drop-off formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 10 metres to a maximum depth of about 40 metres, with an average working depth near 22 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 15 to 35 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Silvertip Shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), 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 Bradford Shoal one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Bradford Shoal is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Kimbe, 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.